4211To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favourd with your Excellencys Letter of the 23d ulto—also with those of 29th & 31st of same Month which came safe to Hand—Yesterday received your Proclamation relative to Deserters—& have sent it to the Printers —In mine of 21st March I informed you of the Order given for marchg 2,000 Militia to Peekskill agreable to your Request & that Brig: Genll Wadsworth would take the Command—Want of...
4212From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 17–18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 12th Instt was delivered me last night by Mr Trumbull. I am much surprized to hear, that the innoculation of the Troops had been countermanded, or the least Hint suggested of the sort. I have never done or said anything countenancing such a measure, on the Contrary, I have pressed & urged the necessity of it in every instance, and I must request, that not a Moment may be...
4213General Orders, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Sentence of the General Court Martial whereof Major Harmar is President, against Lt Costagan of the 1st Jersey Battalion; accused of “Behaving in a scandalous, and infamous manner, unbecoming an officer and a Gentleman, for pressing a Horse, the property of John Kidd Esqr. of Bucks-County, (Pennsylvania) appropriating him to his own use, and when required by Col. Biddle D.Q.M. Genl, to...
4214From George Washington to the Commanding Officer of the German Battalion and the 1st and 12th Pennsylvania Regiments, 17 … (Washington Papers)
On looking over the last Return of the German Battalion, there appears to be Fifty three privates Sick and absent—and Seventeen on Furlough. Almost four months have expired since orders were given for collecting the sick, and yet there are as many absent as if no such had issued. Such disobedience can no longer be pardonned in Officers. I do therefore in the most peremptory manner command that...
4215To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with the receipt of your favors of the 12th and 13th Instant, containing information against sundry Persons wickedly engaged in the service of the Enemy. You may rest assured no pains will be wanting to secure those miscreants. It’s probable Van Wagoner is secured; a person of his Character, being lately taken with a Number of Recruits for the Enemy. The late resolution of...
4216To George Washington from Colonel David Mason, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take this opportunity of Acquainting your Excellency that I reach’d this place on Tuesday last and by order of Brigadier Genl Weedon have with my Men been Innoculated. The number of Men I have with me is contained in the inclosed return, which is short of what I had hopes of being able to March with when I wrote you last—Having very few Troops from the Northern Counties which in the...
4217From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
That the Enemy are upon the point of opening the Campaign can scarce admit of a doubt—where, or in what manner, is yet uncertain; it behooves us however to be as well prepard as possible, & keep every thing in such order as to move at an hours warning—one step towards this is, to have the number of our Posts reduced—the Men drawn a little more compactly together—and Scouts to supply the places...
4218From George Washington to James Mease, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 12th by Colo. Campbell. All the Cloathing that has come from the Eastward within a few days is forwarded to you unopened, except a sufficient Quantity for Colo. Formans Regt of which they were in immediate want. I have directed the Colo. to have the heavy woolen linings taken out of the Coats and sent down to you, and I think if you have time, you had better have the...
4219From George Washington to Major Jacob Morris, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favour’d with your Letter of the 10th Instt, and not having leizure to answer it fully, shall content my self with asking a question or two by way of Information—It being the only trouble I mean to give you at this, or any time hereafter, on the subject of your resignation. Were you not informed then, before I saw you at Genl Sullivans (a day or two preceding your going into New...
4220From George Washington to Richard Peters, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by a Resolve of Congress of the 10th Inst. to transmit to the Board of War a list of the Appointments made in Consequence of the powers with which I am invested by Congress, together with a Copy of all Commissions originating from and issued by me. I have made no appointments out of the Military line, but James Mease Esq: Cloathier Genl with a Salary of 150 dollars ⅌ Month. And...
4221To George Washington from Captain William Scott, 17 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Was appointed by your Excellency to raise a company of rangers & according to a provision made by the honourable the continental congress, I was impower’d to offer each man so to be inlisted six pounds bounty, a suit of cloaths annually, & 100 acres land should they serve the term of three years, but upon coming to new England where I purposd to raise my company, I find a much larger bounty...
4222From George Washington to John Hancock, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have nothing of importance to transmit Congress, no Event in the Military line having happened since my last, except the Surprizing a Small picquet guard of the Enemy on Monday night at Bonam Town & bringing off Thirteen prisoners by One of our parties. An Enterprize of a similar nature was formed against that at Amboy, in which, the party sent to effect it did not succeed so well, though...
4223From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 28th March and 1st of this Month. I have, in my several late letters, wrote to you so fully upon the necessity of forwarding the Troops to Ticonderoga and peekskill, that I need only to refer you to them, and to beg your Attention to the several Matters recommended in them. You will be kind enough not only to insist upon, but to see that the Feild Officers do not stay...
4224General Orders, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
All the Continental Arms, those in possession of the troops, as well as those in Store, to be marked immediately. Commanding Officers of Corps to see this Order put in execution—they will get the Brand by applying to the Commissary of Military stores. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
4225From George Washington to Owen Biddle, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have lately recd the two following peices of Intelligence, which I think it my duty to give you, for if such practices are followed without detection our Enemies will be well supplied. Bowne and Hartshorne, near Shrewsbury in Monmouth County, purchase Continental Money in N. York at a great discount, carry this Money to Philada and there buy Flour &ca under pretence of Shipping it to the...
4226To George Washington from Brigadier General George Clinton, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Being from Home when your Excellency’s Letter of the 31st Ultimo was left at my House prevented my Answering it by the Return of the Express & till now I have not had any other Opportunity —Before the Receipt of it I had (in Consequence of Powers given me by the Convention of this State) ordered out about 1200 of the Militia of this & Orange County 500 of them to releive Colo. Pawling at the...
4227From George Washington to Isaac Foster, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Gl McDougall in a letter of his dated the 12th Inst. writes “that you in a letter to him of the 31t Ulto informed him that Dr Warren had advised you that the Inno[culation] of the forces at Fishkill was countermanded”—I am not a little surprized at this, when I reflect that such a Measure was never even in Idea, & therefore desire that I may be truly informed how such an Order could be given;...
4228From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 18 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Just after I had wrote very fully to you this Morning I recd yours of the 17th. By the inclosed Resolutions of Congress, which came to hand this day, and which are additions and Amendments to the former Articles of War, you will find that every Continental General has a right to carry the Sentence of a General Court Martial into execution in the State in which he commands. And I shall esteem...
4229From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [18 April 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. Strother Jones , son of Mr. Gabriel Jones of Augusta is now about to set out for the Continental army, where he wishes to be so placed as to gain military knolege. An offer of being Aid de camp to Brigadr. Genl. Stephens he thought himself in delicacy obliged to decline, on account of some misunderstanding which had subsisted between that gentleman and his father, tho otherwise...
4230To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Board of War, 19–21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
In the course of this week we have been very fortunate in detecting the stratagems of a number of secret enemies, and of intercepting a letter intended to convey intelligence to the enemy of the present state of our affairs. We have apprehended a Woman, who, we are informed has been three times to Brunswick, and has brought several letters from that place to people in this City. We have great...
4231General Orders, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Complaints have been made by a number of Farmers, and others in different parts of the Country, but especially on the roads between this place and Philadelphia, that the Waggoners, Light Horse, and others, belonging to the Continental Army, have, and do continue to take down the fences of their fields of grain, and grass-lanes [grasslands], which at this season must be attended with...
4232To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 5th Instant from Morris Town; and wish I could say, any of The Troops expected to Arrive at Kenderhook, Claverack, or Red Hook, had reached either of those places; when I am acquainted therewith, Your Excellency may be Assured of my strictly fulfilling your Commands. I have directed the Commissary to purchase, and send in the Vessels...
4233From George Washington to Colonel Richard Gridley, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
This days post brought me your favour of the 10th Inst. The Articles composing Mr Guilds account ( inclosed ) having been delivered while General Ward commanded in Boston, it is necessary that his Certificate should be obtained, when that is done, General Heath will give the proper Order for payment, General Knox having the superintendance of these affairs, will employ Mr Guild if he thinks it...
4234From George Washington to Brigadier General Nathaniel Heard, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I find it necessary to make a new disposition of the forces in the Jerseys—You will please to march all the Militia under your command immediately to this place—upon the Eight[h] Pensylvania Battallion arriving to occupy the Posts you now hold—they have orders for that purpose —Let no time be lost in the execution of this change of disposition. As soon as your troops are ready to march you...
4235To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Many Circumstances have unluckily concurred to retard the recruiting Service in this State amongst them Rank has not been the most inconsiderable; that Matter is at last so far accomodated that I hope for the Service of nearly all those Officers who shared in the Fatigue of the last Campain. Inclosed is a List of our Feild Officers with the Numbers of their Regiments and I expect in a few Days...
4236From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have wrote to General Herd to march the Militia assembled under his Command to this place —I am about making a new disposition of the Forces and shall give General Herd the necessary Orders upon his arrival here—You will send the 8th Pennsylvania Battalion commanded by Col: Broadhead to occupy the Posts General Herd leaves —You will please to give the Col: all the assistance in your power in...
4237From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 8th March, Those of the 4 & 6th likewise came duly to hand. I wish you had sent the Cover of the letter of mine that you suspect had been opened and put under a fresh Cover, as by comparing the direction with the hand writing of the Gentlemen of my family, the matter would have been reduced to a certainty, and the fraud, if any, might perhaps have been traced. I am...
4238From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th Inst. came safe to hand yesterday by Lt Beldin —I shall be sorry to hear that Your disappointment in receiving Money from the Connecticut Treasury has retarded you; That no delay may arise from the want of Money, I have given an Order in your favour for the sum required, Fifteen thousand Dollars, Your Lieutt will receive it here —I hope it is not necessary to recommend...
4239From George Washington to Richard Smith, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 30th Ulto came to my hands by yesterdays Post in an hour after which, an oppertunity (which I embraced) offered of sending the several Inclosures, therein containd, to the Enemy’s Lines (under cover to Lord Cornwallis, Commanding at Brunswick). Any Letters, which you may have occasion to send, through this Channel, to Sir R. Eden shall be carefully forwarded, by Sir Yr Most...
4240From George Washington to Francis Wade, 19 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Francis Wade, 19 April 1777. Wade wrote GW on an unspecified date in May : “Your favr of 19th Ult. was several days on the way before it Came to my hands.”