1From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 28 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Writing the above we have certain Advice that a Fleet of 130 Sail left Halifax the 9th Inst. bound to Sandy Hook—And We have little doubt but General How is arrived there within these few days in the Grey Hound —A Moments Time therefore is not to be lost—The Plan proposed by your Provincial Congress of raising the Men as Volunteers upon a Bounty appears to me to be totally inadequate to...
2From George Washington to William Livingston, 29 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Col. Reed left this I have Received certain Intelligence from the Hook that about forty of the Enemies Fleet have arrived there, and others now in sight that there cannot be a doubt but the whole fleet will be in this day and tomorrow, I beg not a moments time may be lost in sending forward such parts of the Militia as Colo. Reed will mention. We are so very weak at this post that I must...
3From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 5 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 4th came safely to hand. The Situation of New Jersey is such & the Apprehension of the Inhabitants so justly excited that I have concluded to discharge the Militia from this Place except those from Morris County whose internal Situation is such as to leave them nothing to fear from the Enemy. These I have posted on Bergen in order to prevent any Communication & to give the...
4From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 6 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of this Date inclosing Major Duyckinck’s Letters was this Moment received. The known Dissafection of the Poeple of Amboy & the Treachery of those of Staten Island who after the fairest Professions have shewn themselves our inveterate Enemies induced me to give Directions that all Persons of known Enmity or doubtful Character should be removed from Places where they might enter into...
5From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 8 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday with the Inclosures is recieved. Col. Puttnam went over yesterday & after doing what is necessary at Bergen will proceed to Eliza. Town & from thence to Amboy—He is our principal Engineer & may [be] depended upon for Skill & Industry. The Deserter whose Examination you sent was brought over last Evening—two others from the Fleet came up this Morning—their Accounts...
6From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Before this reaches you—You will undoubtedly have heard of the unexpected Arrival of the Carolina Army on Staten Island: which added to the Hessians & former Troops under Ld Howe exhibit a Force justly alarming. When I compare it with that which we have to oppose them I cannot help feeling very anxious Apprehensions. The new Levies are so incomplete the old Regiments deficient in their...
7From George Washington to Brigadier General William Livingston, 21 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
⟨I a⟩m much obliged to you for your Favour of this Date—The Intelligence is important, & I shall take every necessary Measure to avail myself of it. Should any new Intelligence arrive you will please to forward it with the same kind Expedition you have used on this. We have made no Discovery of any Movements here of any Consequence. I am with much Regard Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Sert LS , in...
8From George Washington to William Livingston, 5 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having directed me, by a Resolve of the 26th Septemr to procure as soon as possible, an Exchange of the Officers and Soldiers taken on Long Island for the same Number of British Officers and privates, now prisoners in the united States, it becomes necessary for me to be informed of the Number and Ranks of the prisoners in the different States, in order to carry the same into...
9From George Washington to William Livingston, 7 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On tuesday morning the Enemy broke up their Encampments which were i⟨n⟩ front of our lines, after having re⟨mained there⟩ several days without attempt⟨ing any thing.⟩ they have advanced towards the ⟨North River and⟩ King’s bridge. This sudden & unexpect⟨ed Movement⟩ is a matter of much speculation. some su⟨ppose⟩ they are going into Winter Quarters, and will set dow⟨n⟩ in New York without...
10From George Washington to William Livingston, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment arrived at this place with Genl Beals and Genl Heards Brigades from Maryland and Jersey and part of Genl Ewing’s from Pennsylvania. Three other Regiments left to Guard the Passes upon Hackinsack River and to serve as covering Parties are expected up this Evening. After the unfortunate Loss of Fort Washington it was determined to evacuate Fort Lee in a great Measure, as it...
11From George Washington to William Livingston, 23 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
⟨The⟩ Critical Situation of our Affairs ⟨and the move⟩ments of the Enemy make some ⟨further & im⟩mediate Exertions absolutely ⟨necessary—In⟩ order that you may have the ⟨fullest Repre⟩sentation and form a perfect ⟨Idea of what is⟩ now necessary, I have desired ⟨Colo. Reed to w⟩ait on You, and must refer ⟨You to him for⟩ Particulars. I am with great Respect & Regard Sir Your Most Obedt & Very...
12From George Washington to William Livingston, 30 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure and honor of acknowledging the Rect of yours of the 27th. Genl Williamson gives me small Encouragement to hope for much Assistance from the Militia of this State, indeed some of the Counties, if they were willing, are intimidated from coming in, as the Enemy have possession of the Country. I hope the four Regiments, to be raised to serve till the first of April, will be...
13From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday, but as from every Information of the Motions of the Enemy, their Intent seems plainly directed thro this State, and then on to Philadelphia, I cannot help calling upon you in the most urgent Manner, and begging you to fall upon proper Means to draw forth the Strength of your province to my Support. The Enemy’s advanced parties were last Night at Bonum Town four Miles...
14From George Washington to William Livingston, 24 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
The irregular and disjointed State of the Militia of this province, makes it necessary for me to inform you, that unless a Law is passed by your Legislature to reduce them to some order, and oblige them to turn out in a different Manner from what they have hitherto done, we shall bring very few into the Feild, and even those few, will render little or no Service. Their Officers are generally...
15From George Washington to William Livingston, 3 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favor’d with yours of 1st Inst., & shall be happy to hear that your House will adopt the Measures you propose recommding to them. Our Army is in much the same situation as when I had the pleasure of seeing you here, we have lately had two Skirmishes with large Bodies of the Enemy, in which they have little to boast of, & would have had Less , had not a Colonel of ours behav’d Ill in each,...
16From George Washington to William Livingston, 11 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have with pain heard of the irreconcileable Uneasinesses prevailing in the 1st N. Jersey Battalion, originating, as I am credibly informed, in the appointment of Colo. Newcomb to the Command of it. Notwithstanding I believe that Colo. Newcomb is a Gentleman of great Goodness and Integrity, and can not entertain the slightest doubts of his Bravery, yet I am too well persuaded that he is not...
17From George Washington to William Livingston, 14 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your two favours of the 6th and 10th Inst. I had the honour to receive this Evening—Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to have it in my Power fully to comply with the request contained in the former. The first question proposed is easily solved by a sight of the emaciated bodies of all our Prisoners when they have returned—The second admits of equal Proof, as well in the fate of...
18From George Washington to William Livingston, 18 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of writing to you on the 14th Inst., by the way of Philadelphia, in answer to your favour of the 6th I have received from Brigr Stephen the Letters & Affidavit, by me referred to, when mentioning the Case of Adjutt Kelly; Copies of which, & of a part of a Letter inclosing them to my Aid de Camp, explaining a Sentence in Sr Willm’s Answer, I take the liberty of...
19From George Washington to William Livingston, 22 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
This Morning I had the honour of receiving your favour of the 15th Inst. with the papers mentioned and inclosed. No person, I hope, can be so lost to Virtue, as to except against Colo. Newcomb on Acct of his being religiously disposed—The relaxed discipline, & Want of Order in the Regimt, I believe, were among the principle Objections to him: These added to his Inactivity & that Want of...
20From George Washington to William Livingston, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The honour of receiving your favours 20th & 22d Ulto I am now to acknowledge. Some time past Colo. Shreve had my peremptory Order to march with such of his Battalion as was then inlisted: I therefore expected him every day ’till your Letter of the 20th informed me that he was then at Burlington. He has my Order repeated to march immediately to Princeton, there to remain under General Putnam...
21From George Washington to William Livingston, 8 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this Moment had the Honour to receive your two favours of the 3d Inst. With pleasure I will forward your Letters to Mr Jay by the first Opportunity. How can an Assembly of Gentlemen, Eyewitnesses to the distresses & Inconveniences that have their principal source in the Want of a well regulated Militia, hesitate to adopt the only remedy that can remove them! And stranger still, think of a...
22From George Washington to William Livingston, 9 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Council of Safety of Pennsylvania has done me the honour to communicate to [me a] piece of Intelligence of Importance, which they received from Colo. Gurney: A Copy of which is inclosed. I wish it may rouse the Gentlemen of your Assembly to prepare for the worst Event—In my Opinion the present Time is of infinitely greater Worth than is generally supposed. Vain and useless will all our...
23From George Washington to William Livingston, 1 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with yours of the 17th and 26th March. I communicated the intelligence you gave me concerning Govr Franklin, to Govr Trumbull, who will have his motions narrowly watched in future. I perceive many difficulties in the execution of your Militia law, particularly in suffering an appeal to lay before a Court of Judicature. That indulgence will always be claimed by the person...
24From George Washington to William Livingston, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of Yesterday. I ⟨may⟩ have been mistaken in my interpretation of you⟨r⟩ Militia Law, but it however leaves open a door ⟨for⟩ much litigation and delay. As you must certainly be best acquainted with the Circumstances of your own State, I intirely acquiesce with any mode which you may think most expedient in regard to calling out your Militia ⟨at⟩ this time. I think the...
25From George Washington to William Livingston, 16 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 14th. I dont know whether Colo. Duyckink comes under the Civil or Military Jurisdiction, but from the following State of the facts on which I ordered him to be secured, you will be able to form a Judgment, and if you think, he falls within the line of civil Authority, I will most cheerfully give him up to you. Colo. Duyckink, some time in the Winter came...
26From George Washington to William Livingston, 29 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting the inclosed Resolve of Congress passed the 25th inst. I shall be obliged if you will, agreeable to the requisition therein made, order out One Thousand of the Militia of your State to continue in Service Four Weeks from the time they join the Army. I mention four Weeks because I think by your late Militia Law, you cannot insist upon their Service for a...
27From George Washington to William Livingston, 11 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this day honoured with yours of the 2d instant, as I was a few days ago with that of the 30th April. previous to the Rect of it, I had desired Mr Boudinot, to demand Mr Fells release for that of Mr Hugh Wallace, Colo. Philipse or Mr Jauncey whose paroles we have and who are all Counsellors of the State of New York. If they refuse this, I shall call upon one of those Gentlemen to return to...
28From George Washington to William Livingston, 9 July 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Livingston, 9 July 1777. Livingston’s letter to GW of 8 July is docketed in part “Ansd 9.”
29From George Washington to William Livingston, 12 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am Honor’d with your favor of yesterday, & observe what you say respecting the Discharge of the Militia now station’d at Newark, which, (provided you think the Situation of things on staten Island will warrant such a procedure) I have not the least Objection to, as I have already signified to Colo. Cortland. I would mention to you that as soon as Genl Howe’s Movements will finally declare...
30From George Washington to William Livingston, 25 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
If the Fleet that has lately sailed is destined for Delaware, it will be as necessary for the Militia of Burlington, Gloucester, Salem and Cape May to be assembled, as those of Pennsylvania; and I could therefore wish, that orders might be given for such a proportion as are usually called out upon Alarms to assemble immediately at Gloucester. A very few days will determine whether they are to...