1To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 28 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to Coll Reed & on considering what Number of the Militia of this Province to call forth in pursuance of your Excellencys Directions. I find myself greatly embarrassed with respect to the Point on which the direction appears to depend—This seems to be suspended, upon my Opinion of the Certainty of a considerable Body of Troops under the present Establishment being to be had within...
2To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 4 July 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brigadier General William Livingston, 4 July 1776 (first letter). GW began his letter to Livingston of 5 July : “Your Favour of the 4th came safely to hand,” and near the end he wrote: “another of your Favours came to my Hands informing me that the Enemy have thrown up two small Breast Works on the Cause way from the Point.” The second letter is Livingston’s letter of...
3To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 4 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to Mr Adjutant Reed, nothing material has happened here, excepting that we are fully Confirmed in the Enemy’s having Posts along the whole Staten Island Shore as far as Amboy —They have thrown up a couple of small Breast Works on the Cause way leading from the Point over the Salt Meadows at the Entrance of the two Bridges. It is said that last Night they brought two pieces of...
4To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 5 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, I have recieved so many Applications from the Inhabitants along the Sound, Woodbridge & Amboy relating to the defenceless State of their Borders, the whole Militia being sent to New York, that to allay their Fears (with the Approbation of Genl Mercer, who had stopped them at New Ark Ferry, when they were ordered to assist Genl Herd) I ordered Major Duyckink with 600 Middlesex...
5To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 5 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I forwarded the inclosed early this morning, but thro’ a mistake of the express was this moment returned to me. Since which I am honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of this Day, part of which is answered by the enclosed Letter. Every thing in my power shall be carefully attended to, for the public Good. We have plenty of Provision, I am informed it will continue. I forgot to mention in my...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 6 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
This moment an express arrived from Major Duyckinck, a copy of whose Letter I enclose to save time —I should be glad of some immediate directions what to do with the prisoners, as in the mean time I am obliged to keep them under Guard. I am acquainted with but one of them, John Smyth Esqr: who is a man of so great integrity that I think great faith might be given to his Word —If they are to...
7To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 7 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Capt. Swan of the new Levies just going off for the City, I take the Liberty of enclosing a Rough Draught of the Sound & Jersey Shore from Elizabeth Point to Amboy, with an Abstract of the different Posts I have directed along the same. Altho’ this may not be of any essential Service, yet I thought it not amiss, as it might give You an Idea of what I had done, that your Excellency might...
8To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 12 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 8th Instant I recieved on a Journey to Brunswick on Friday last, when I had an Opportunity of Conferring with our Convention and urging your Excellency’s requisition relating to the Militia, the propriety of which is so obvious—I returned on Saturday Evening and delayed answering your favour in hopes of recieving the resolution of Convention thereon—I have just been favoured...
9To George Washington from Brigadier General William Livingston, 21 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In the utmost Haste, I must inform you that very providentially, I sent a Spy last Night on Staten Island to obtain Intelligence of the movements of the Enemy, as many Things apparently new was seen from our Lines—He has this Moment returned in safety—The Substance of his Information I must give you in short—He went on the Island about Midnight and got undiscovered to the House of the Person...
10To George Washington from William Livingston, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 7th Instant I had the Honour of receiving last Evening being accidentally in Town, where upon Occasion of it & some other publick Business I staid the whole Night. After sending for General Williamson, and beginning to prepare a Copy of your Letter for General Mercer, the Latter happen’d to come in person, and was of great Use in the Business before us. We examin’d Six or...
11To George Washington from William Livingston, 27 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have directed General Williamson to order all the militia of the Counties of Bergen Essex Morris Sommerset Middlesex & Sussex (having myself ordered that of Hunterdon) immediately to march & join the Army under your Command & to continue in Service for the defence of this State for a time not exceeding six weeks to be computed from the time of their joining the said Army. The Legislature of...
12To George Washington from William Livingston, 1 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 24th January I had the Honour of receiving after the Assembly was adjourned to this Place, which is a Village in the County of Gloucester about six miles from Philadelphia. The several Points mentioned by your Excellency I think of the greatest Importance for the better regulating our Militia; and as the house have now a Bill for that Purpose before them, I shall in the strongest...
13To George Washington from William Livingston, 6 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am requested by Congress to procure one or more Affidavits on the following Subjects. 1 The Enemy’s Treatment of Prisoners. 2 Their abusing and mangling Persons upon the Field or elsewhere after Surrender. 3 Their Depredations of Property. & 4 Their ill treatment of Women. With respect to the 2d Point, if I remember right, I understood from Collo. Flower when I was at Morris Town, that he...
14To George Washington from William Livingston, 10 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 3d Instant, I received this Day, and am greatly obliged to you for the Intelligence it contains. We are exceedingly anxtious in this solitary Retirement to hear from head Quarters as often as possible: And any Accounts of the spirited behaviour of our Troops, affect us with unspeakable Pleasure—What Pity it is that any of our Officers should be so unacquainted with themselves...
15To George Washington from William Livingston, 15 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th Instant yesterday, inclosing a Copy of the Resolve of Congress of the 27th of December, investing you with certain Powers, which the present Situation of our public Affairs have rendered it necessary to confer upon the continental Commander in Chief. It is sometime since I was honour’d with a Copy from the President of the Congress; & I heartily...
16To George Washington from William Livingston, 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received a Letter from Collo. Shreve yesterday from Burlington applying for a Barrack Master & Commissary, for wood & for straw; & informing me that the Barracks want repair; from what I collect that the Collo. intends to make Burlington the Seat of his Residence longer than I think his Duty to the Service, requires—He has not furnished me with a Return; but I am informd that he has with him...
17To George Washington from William Livingston, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of the inclosed Resolution I am to desire the Favour of your Excellency to explain the Nature of the Oath to be Administred by virtue of your Proclamation, as soon as your Leisure will permit. I have had frequent Complaints of the Troops stationed at the two Ferries at Trenton, & at another above it, respecting their Conduct towards Passengers; As that they oblige them under...
18To George Washington from William Livingston, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honour of receiving your Excellency’s Favour of the 22d of february, & find myself extremely happy in your concurring with me in opinion against extorting Fines from the Militia; but alas that I fear will be our only chance of obliging some of the poorer sort to turn out at last; for our long expected Militia Bill in its present form, and as it will undoubtedly pass respecting...
19To George Washington from William Livingston, 3 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 3 Mar. 1777. GW wrote to Livingston on 8 Mar. that “I this Moment had the Honour to receive your two favours of the 3d Inst.” The missing second letter apparently contained a brief request for GW to forward a letter of the same date to John Jay.
20To George Washington from William Livingston, 8 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 8 Mar. 1777. GW’s secretary Tench Tilghman writes in reply to Livingston on 11 Mar.: “His Excellency being much indisposed commands me to acknowledge the honor of yours of the 8th Currt. Many frauds will undoubtedly arise upon the irregular Mode in which we shall be obliged to settle the accounts of the Flying Camp men of this State. Under the present...
21To George Washington from William Livingston, 17 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 17 Mar. 1777. GW writes to Livingston on 1 April that “I have been honoured with yours of the 17th and 26th.”
22To George Washington from William Livingston, 26 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 26 Mar. 1777. GW writes to Livingston on 1 April that “I have been honoured with yours of the 17th and 26th.”
23To George Washington from William Livingston, 4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favor of the 1st Instant by General Forman. I apprehend your Excellency mistakes the Clause in our Militia Act respecting the Appeal in Case of a Fine. You seem to represent it as if the Delinquent was excused from paying the Fine till the Determination of the Appeal against him—But that is not the Case—The Act is however extremely deficient; and it...
24To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Collo. Duyckinck has preferred a Petition to the Governor & Council of Safety of this State for a hearing being under terrible apprehensions of the approaching warm Season of the year in the place of his Confinement —As the Judicature he has addressed, is competent to release him from confinemt or order his Imprisonment in this State, for an Offence against the municipal Laws, it is on the one...
25To George Washington from William Livingston, 30 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I learn that Mr Fell one of the Members of the Council of this State was lately taken out of his own Bed in Bergen County by the Tories, and carried a Prisoner to New york —Considering his public Utility as a very valuable Member of our Legislature and incorruptible Attachment to the Cause of american Liberty, in a County abounding with its Adversaries; the delicacy of his Constitution &...
26To George Washington from William Livingston, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of your Excellency’s Requisition of the 29 ult’mo (which I had the honor of receiving last night,) for ordering 1000 of our militia to join General Heard at Pompton, I have this morning directed General Winds to detach 600 from Morris Sussex Hunterdon & Sommerset, & General Newcomb 400 from Gloucester Salem & Cumberland to continue in Service 4 weeks from the time they join the...
27To George Washington from William Livingston, 9 June 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 9 June 1777. GW wrote John Sullivan on 12 June that “Govr Livingston, in a letter of the 9th instant, informs me that he had ordered the Militia of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland to assemble at Mount Holly and that Colo. Bowes Reed was to assemble his Regt at Borden Town.”
28To George Washington from William Livingston, 18 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty to inclose you a Discharge from Capt. Wetherby to one Sharp a Soldier in the Service of the united States; and Sharp’s Affidavit of his having paid the Capt. 100 Dollars to obtain it. I cannot learn with any certainty to whose Battalion, Wetherby belongs, but am told that he belongs to Collo. Forman’s. If he was an officer in one of the Regiments raised by this State, I...
29To George Washington from William Livingston, 8 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Order of the Council of Safety of this State, General Winds has collected 200 of our Militia, to proceed to the County of Bergen, under the Command of Major Hayes of Newark, (a prudent and active Officer) to apprehend such disaffected Persons in that County, as the Council of Safety think it most necessary for the Public Interest to commit to Jail; and to enable the Commissioners for...
30To George Washington from William Livingston, 11 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Some of our Militia having been posted as Guards at Elizabeth Town and Newark by order of some Officers under your Excellency’s Command; I am informed that a Body of the continental Troops has lately been station’d at both those places. That in consequence of this, the Militia stationed at Elizabeth Town, have been discharged while those at Newark are still detained on Duty. I do not pretend...
31To George Washington from William Livingston, 15–16 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Governor and Council of Safety, having received Intelligence of two recruiting Parties having gone from Staten Island into the Counties of Sussex and Morris, immediately took measures for having them apprehended. On Saturday last, one of those Parties brought us Lieutenant Troup of the third Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers commanded by Collo. Dongan, with one Sergeant & a Private. They...
32To George Washington from William Livingston, 28 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreably to the Resolution of Congress of the 20 instant, & your Excellencys Requisition in Consequence thereof, I have with the Advice of my Privy Council ordered 1000 of our militia to relieve the like Number of the militia of the State of New york at present employed in garrisoning the Forts on Hudson’s river in order that the said (New york) militia may be employed in repelling the...
33To George Washington from William Livingston, 29 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the inclosed (which was taken at Staten Island,) may probably be of some Service on Lieutenants Troup’s Trial, I thought it my Duty to send it to your Excellency. I have wrote you fully on the Subject of your Requisition of 1000 of our Militia to garrison the forts along Hudson’s River, by Major General Sullivan. I have still some apprehensions that the Enemy will play you a trick by...
34To George Washington from William Livingston, 3 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honoured with your Excellencys Favour of the 1st Instant, as I arrived at this place to meet the Assembly. I am surprized at Mr Troup’s pretension of his leaving the Enemy to come into this State with design of taking the Benefit of our Act of Grace, & of referring in Proof of that Assertion, to Philip Schoop & his Mother, for the three following reasons, which I think render it...
35To George Washington from William Livingston, 30 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 30 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Livingston on 1 Oct. : “I was just now honoured with your Favor of the 30th Ulto with It’s Inclosures.”
36To George Washington from William Livingston, 5 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 1st Instant now lies before me. Respecting our public Stores at Trenton, I have some time since upon the Application of Mr Stewart ordered a Company of our Militia as a Guard; since which, as I have not been farther applied to, I am in hopes Mr Stewart has been able to procure a sufficient Number of waggons. But least he should be in want of more, I shall this very day send...
37To George Washington from William Livingston, 10 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Letter of the 8th Instant respecting the Enemy’s Movements up the North River is truly alarming; nor shall I be wanting to use every Mean in my Power towards procuring all the assistance which this State can afford to oppose their Attempts. But the Necessity of such assistance being speedily procured, (and must if it is to answer any purpose) & the dilatoriness unavoidably...
38To George Washington from William Livingston, 12 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Assembly could not be prevailed upon to agree to more than 1000 Men to be raised for reinforcing General Putnam, unless I take some of those to be called out by General Forman to join the Army under your Excellency’s command; which I suppose would not be adviseable. The Council of Safety will quit this place to morrow for Quaker Town (a most ominous Appellation!) whither your Excellency...
39To George Washington from William Livingston, 20 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 20 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Livingston on 22 Oct. : “I have the honor of yours of the 20th.”
40To George Washington from William Livingston, 5 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honour’d with your Excellency’s Favour of the 1st Instant. General Newcombs Conduct is such as might naturally be expected from a Gentleman who was made a General, because your Excellency did not think him fit for a Collonel. I take the Liberty to inclose you a Copy of what I have wrote him; & if he makes any more Difficulties of that kind, I doubt not, by his present...
41To George Washington from William Livingston, 9 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this Moment received your Excellency’s Letter of yesterdays date. I am so thoroughly convinced of the Importance of the Post at Red-bank that I want no Arguments to induce me to exert my best Endeavours to raise our Militia for its defence—your Excellency is pleased to observe that “this State is more particularly called upon by reason of its Situation; and because it never furnished the two...
42To George Washington from William Livingston, 11 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Favour of yesterday’s date I just now received—It gives me very great Concern Sir that you should think I meant to construe any part of your Letter into any kind of reflection upon the Exertions of this State. If there is any Expression in my Letter (of which I have no Copy) that appears to carry that Idea, I am confident your Excellency’s Candour will ascribe it to the hurry...
43To George Washington from William Livingston, 22 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Legislature of this State having passed a Law for impressing a thousand Blankets for the Use of the Jersey Battalions under your Command, & for authorizing Commissioners to Purchase as many others, with as many Articles of Cloathing for the said Troops as they can procure, we presume that all orders that may have been issued to military Officers to seize such Articles in this State will be...
44To George Washington from William Livingston, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great Concern that our recruiting upon your Plan is not yet begun in this State, for want of my being able to give the proper Instructions to the persons appointed respecting the Security to be given & the Manner in which they are to draw for the Money—To obtain proper Directions on these Subjects I wrote to Congress on the 11th of last Month, but have received no Answer, I now...
45To George Washington from William Livingston, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am quite content to have Lieut. Boskirk, Lieut. Earle & Surgeon Hammel treated as Prisoners of war, being fully convinced by your Excellency’s observations on the Subject of the Propriety of the Measure—They therefore wait your order, being now confined in Trenton Gaol—If you think it for the good of the Service to have Browne treated in like manner, I shall have no Objection after his...
46To George Washington from William Livingston, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honoured with your Excellencys favour of the 31 Ultimo, & immediately issued orders to Collo. Ellis a Copy of which I inclose you. your Excellency will observe that the Council of Safety have no Authority to order the removal of any other Articles save those mentioned in the orders to Collo. Ellis. So that with respect to Forage & Provisions your Excellency must recur to the...
47To George Washington from William Livingston, 9 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have directed the Bearer to take your advice respecting the part he is to act to counterplot the Designs of the Enemy. They want excedingly to know what Troops are stationd in this State, & to establish a line of Communication by Land—Should you advise Morseiles to aid in settling their Posts, & he is trusty enough to communicate it to us when established, we might by that means procure...
48To George Washington from William Livingston, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am the more chagrined at the want of provisions, to which I am informed your Army is reduced, as I believe it is partly owing to the boundless Avarice of some of our Farmers, who would rather see us ingulphed in eternal Bondage, than sell their produce at a reasonable price. This however is now remedied by our late act for regulating the price of provisions, which wants nothing but vigorous...
49To George Washington from William Livingston, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon frequent Complaints that Capt. Kennedy’s Residence at his Farm was injurious to the State, & occasioned great Clamours from the People in This Neighbourhood, the Council ordered his Attendance on the Board—they at the same time desired a Gentleman near the Spot, to procure what Affidavits he could respecting Captn Kennedy’s Conduct—He sent us by return of the Express three Affidavits with...
50To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is represented to me, that Robert Wilson, who I am told, acts as Commissary under Mr Blain, for the Counties of Sussex, Morris and Somerset in this State, has in the County of Somerset employed only part of the Mills. By this means, the distance that Wheat must be carted is most amazingly encreased; and either the Farmer put to an unnecessary trouble, or the States to an additional Expence....