211To George Washington from the Board of War, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to forward returns of Maj. Lee’s Corps, Von Heers Corps, Schots Corps—& of five Companies of the German Regiment, which are all the returns they have, of those requested in your Excellencys favors of the 15th & 18th instant. Col. Armand is now in the City, & is directed to have a return of his Corps prepared; which will be forwarded as soon as finished—but...
212From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
By the regulations the non-comissioned officers are to be armed with swords as a mark of distinction and to enable them the better to maintain the authority due to their stations—This necessary arrangement has not yet been carried into execution— By some returns I have seen there appears to have been a considerable number of Hessian hangers at Albany, though I find no mention of them in the...
213From George Washington to the Board of War, 26 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received the inclosed proceedings of a General Court Martial held by order of the Board —As I am not informed of any provision having been made for vesting the power of appoin[tin]g Courts Mar⟨tial⟩ in the Board (which is too confined in many respects), I should not think myself at liberty to confirm the proceedings of the present Court, were there no objection to the manner of the...
214From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 22d accompanied by the Returns of sundry of the additional and detached Corps, from which, and from those which I had been enabled to collect in and near the Army I have furnished the respective States with a tolerably accurate account of the deficiencies of their Quotas. I have informed them, that should any more Men appear to their Credit upon a full...
215To George Washington from the Board of War, 28 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d I have given Orders to the Comissy Genl of Military Stores in Consequence. As many Colours as possible shall be provided but until we recieve the Articles from France, of which we have lately had agreeable Accounts, we cannot have the Standards prepared agreeably to the Plan proposed vizt to have two for every regt—one the Standard...
216From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have lately had several applications from the Subalterns of the Massachusetts line respecting mistakes which they say happened in the arrangement settled at West point, and confirmed by Congress and agreeable to which their Commissions were issued. As I have no Copy of that arrangement I am unable to determine upon the propriety of their complaints—I shall for that Reason be obliged by a...
217To George Washington from the Board of War, 4 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
We beg to apologize for omitting the Acknowledgment of your Excellency’s Favour of the 8th of Feby relative to the Ordnance & Stores to be lodged at Fort Pitt. Immediately on reciept of that Letter Orders were given for the provision of the Articles which are now ready to proceed when the roads will admitt. If any offensive Operations are intended in that Quarter we wish to be favoured with...
218From George Washington to the Board of War, 6 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 28th ulto. It gives me great pleasure to find by your letter and by one which I recd a few days ago from Mr Lovell that we have favorable account⟨s⟩ from France on the subject of supplies of Cloathing and other stores —I have directed the Adj⟨t⟩ General to call for an exact return of the drum⟨s⟩ and fifes wanting which shall be transmitted to the Board as...
219From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have Returns of Arms and Accoutrements wanting by the 2d and 4th Regiments of Light Dragoons —The Articles of sadlery could, I beleive, have been procured in Connecticut, but the Dy Qr Mr General there did not think himself at liberty to proceed in the Business, without a special order, and therefore transmitted the Returns to the Quarter Master General for his direction—who,...
220To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been duly honored with Your Excellency’s Letter of the 26 Ulto. The Court Martial which is the Subject of it, was ordered by Virtue of the Authority given them in the Inclosed Resolution of Congress, which they would have Transmitted, had they not taken it for granted, that you were regularly furnished with all the Resolutions of Congress relating to the Army. The Board have...
221From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
In answer to Your Letter of the 4th Instant which I had the Honor of receiving the 12th—I beg leave to inform You, that from the diminution of our force at Fort pitt by the expiration of the Men’s inlistments and the impracticability of replacing them from hence there is no prospect of our undertaking shortly any offensive operations in that Quarter. I would not wish this however to delay the...
222To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have been favoured with yours of the 8th Instant. We have the Honour to enclose a Copy of the Paragraph in our Letter of the 18th Ulto to Otis & Henley relative to the Cloathing for Colo. Sheldon’s Regt. The Measures we have been enabled to take for the Equipment of the Cavalry have been very much confined by the situation of the Public Finances which are in so miserable a Condition that we...
223To George Washington from the Board of War, 20 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to inclose copies of some letters which they have recd on the subject of the Supplies of the Army. They are exceedingly concerned that the prospects from some of them, are so unpromising. And are much alarmed for the consequences; nor can they conjecture what may be the event, unless the late regulations in the finances produce a favorable change in our...
224From George Washington to the Board of War, 25 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favors of the 10th 15th 17th and 20th Instants. The Resolve of Congress empowering the Board to order General Courts Martial occasionally had never been transmitted to me, to which account I hope they will place my former doubts upon the propriety of the measure—There is an error in dating the Copy of the Resolve with which you were pleased to furnish me, it now...
225From George Washington to the Board of War, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Upon receiving information that the enemy are preparing to send a reinforcement to the southward, I have determined to detach Major Lees Corps, both Horse and Foot to that quarter, and have written to the commanding Officer to put them in readiness as expeditiously as possible. As they will undoubtedly want many matters to equip them for so long a march, I have directed the Officer to repair...
226To George Washington from the Board of War, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The great distress of the Army for want of Blankets induced the board sometime since to attempt to import them from New York. this however they would have been very averse to, if they had not been absolutely certain there were no other possible means of procuring them. Previous to their taking this step, they applied to Congress for a secret Committee to confer with them on the measure; and...
227To George Washington from the Board of War, 31 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board have recd a letter from Col. Wood at Charlotteville, wherein he mentions “that he is well assured that the Offering pardons to all deserters from the Virg. Line who will surrender themselves at that post by a given time, would be productive of good effects; & that we should recover a great number of Men by it, who otherwise may probably seek an asylum in the New Country.” The board...
228From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had Yesterday afternoon the Honor to receive Your Letter of the 30th of March, and agreeable to your request I inclose a permit for the Goods in charge of Captain Bowman. This mode of obtaining supplies is certainly justifiable from the unhappy situation of our affairs & the necessity of having them; but at the same time, for reasons which will readily occur to the Board, I very much wish...
229To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency, the copy of a letter from Maj. Lee. At the instance of Baron Steuben, & considering that enlistments went on but slowly, the board consented that the dismounted Dragoons of his Corps, should be increased to three Troops, because they were taught to believe that the Corps would be more perfect in its formation; and that its reputation...
230From George Washington to the Board of War, 7 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to transmit the inclosed letter for Colo. Blane to Your care, as I do not know with certainty where he is. It is on the state of our provision Supplies, which is most alarming. By the Issuing Commissary’s Return of today and the Return of the State Superintendent Colo. Dunham—It appears that the whole of the provision of the meat kind which they both have in & in collecting...
231From George Washington to the Board of War, 9 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was the evening before the last, honored with yours of the 31st ulto and 3d instant, the latter inclosing the Copy of a letter from Major Lee, to the Board, on the subject of promoting Captains Peyton and McLane of his Corps to the Rank of Majors, and assigning the reasons on which his propositions were founded. In January last, Major Lee transmitted to me a letter from Capt. McLane to him...
232To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board request your Excellency’s opinion upon the Subject of the inclosed memorandum of Genl Green; dictated by the necessities of the Public. The boats mentioned are about 70, or 80 in number, & will command £14.00. or £1500 each. and not more than 100 barrels of Tar will be wanted for several months to come. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Yr Excellencys Most Obed. Hble...
233To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board have the honor to inclose the copy of a letter from Coll Broadhead for your Excellency’s consideration. The Military Stores are already forwarded agreeable to your request of sometime ago; And the board have reported to Congress, that six blank commissions should be sent to Col. Broadhead, to be filled up with the Names of such faithful Indians of the Delaware Tribe, as he shall...
234From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit You the Arrangement of Harrison’s—Lamb’s, Crane’s & proctor’s Battallions of Artillery, on which You will be pleased to issue Commissions. The Relative ranks of the Field Officers & of all Captains as well those belonging to separate Companies as to the Battallions are set down after the Regimental arrangements, with the proper numbers against each, by which their...
235From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had yesterday the honor to receive your Letters of the 13th & 17th Instant, with their inclosures. With respect to the Boats and other articles which make the subject of the first, I beg leave to inform the Board that I do not know that there will be any objection to selling them, except such a part of the Tar as they may think it necessary to keep. The state of our Treasury & the necessity...
236To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have the honor to inclose you the copy of a letter from the Governor of Maryland proposing the exchange of Lt Col. Conolly for Lieut. Col. Ramsay, the eldest prisoner of that rank in the Maryland Line. We will take the liberty of stating to your Excellency the facts that occur to us; respecting Lt Col. Conolly. It appears by the Journals of Congress of Decr 1st 1775, that Conolly & his...
237From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
As the inclosed representation from Capt. Schott to me implies that some steps have been taken by the Board respecting the incorporation of his and Capt. Selins Companies with the German Battalion, I have not thought proper to give any opinion upon it, untill I am informed how far the representation agrees with the measures which the Board may have adopted upon the occasion. I have the honor...
238From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
It appears by the inclosed Copy of a letter from Baron Steuben that about 1500 Muskets fitted with Bayonets and the same number of Bayonet Belts and Cartouch Boxes of the new construction are wanting to compleat the troops in this Cantonment —You will be pleased therefore to direct the above quantity to be sent forward as speedily as our circumstances will admit—The Musketts which will be...
239To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to transmit your Excellency, copies of sundry Letters from south Carolina, giving intelligence of the Military operations in that quarter. I have the Honor to be with the highest respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient and very Hble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Board of War secretary pro tempore Joseph Carleton apparently enclosed copies of three letters: Maj. Gen. Benjamin...
240To George Washington from the Board of War, 22 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
On Mr Blaine’s return to this Place, the Board were informed of the extreme distress of the Army for want of Meat; His account, was that there would be nothing to issue of that article after thursday last. Being much embarrassed about the means of furnishing an immediate supply, they were induced to apply to the Merchants of this City for their assistance. These Gentlemen have agreed to...