71From George Washington to the Board of War, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Incessant and pressing applications of the Officers—and their real distress for Cloathing, obliges me to repeat my wishes to the Board to obtain the earliest direction of Congress for relieving their wants. They are in a very disagreable situation in this respect, and, unless some mode can be adopted for speedily supplying them, Many will be obliged involuntarily to quit the service—or if...
72From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Major Nicholas has been with me and reported the state of the Cloathing—and also the forwardness in which it is, for coming on. I was sorry to find by his account, that the whole of the shoes will not exceed seven thousand pair. This I thought it my duty to inform the Board of, as the supply will not more than answer the Instant—pressing wants of the Troops, who are actually barefoot. I fear...
73From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In the Letter, which I had the honor of addressing to you on the 18 Instant—I mentioned the scanty size of many of the Blankets, which had come to the hands of the Cloathier. By this conveyance by Wm Jones, I think it proper to send one for the inspection of the Board—by which they will find—how much we have been deceived—and the public imposed on in this essential article of supply; and also...
74To George Washington from the Board of War, 31 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Board of War, c.31 Dec. 1778. On 1 Jan. 1779 GW wrote Brig. Gen. William Smallwood : “The inclosed was addressed to me by the Board of War at the request of Mr Rutherford.”
75From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your letters of the 9 and 16th Inst. upon the subject of paying the arrearages of Cloathing due to the Army for the year 1777 —I have drawn up the inclosed rough plan, which contains the heads of what, in my opinion, will be necessary to establish some general Regulations for a settlement with the line of the Army at large. That justice may be equally distributed to the...
76To George Washington from the Board of War, 23 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 23 Feb. 1779. GW wrote the Board of War on 26 Feb. : “I am honored with yours of the 19th 22d and 23d instants with their several enclosures.” In a letter of 13 April from the Board of War to GW, it is explained that the letter of 23 Feb. discusses the disputed promotion of Maj. Francis Nichols and presents “all we know of the Arrangement & the Concern...
77To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 25 Feb. 1779. GW wrote the Board of War on 4 March : “I have been honoured with yours of the 25 ulto inclosing papers relative to the opposition of the officers of the 1st Penna Regt to Capt. McKissacks introduction into that Corps.”
78From George Washington to the Board of War, 26 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 19th 22d and 23d instants with their several enclosures —General Duportails plan for the formation of the Corps of Miners and sappers shall be immediately revised and returned by himself with the amendments which may be, in my opinion, proper —I will have the dispute of Rank between Majors Mentges, Murray and Nichols carefully examined and will transmit to the...
79To George Washington from the Board of War, 26 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 26 Feb. 1779. GW wrote the Board of War on 4 March : “I recd yours of the 26 inclosing papers relating to the arrangement of the Army.”
80From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed plan for the establishment of a corps of Engineers has been submitted to me by General Du Portail. I now return it to the Board accompanied with my remarks on such parts of it as appeared to me to require them. These have been first communicated to General Du Portail. With great respect & esteem I have the honor to be Gentlemen Yr Most Obed. servt. Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s...
81To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 27 Feb. 1779. GW wrote the Board of War on 4 March : “I have been honoured with yours of the 25 ulto... and of the 27th with papers respecting the dispute of Rank between Majors Murray, Mentges and Nichols.”
82From George Washington to the Board of War, 28 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letters which you did me the honor to write the 22d & 23d inst. In consequence of the first—I have written to Col. Bland appointing him to the command at Charlotteville—and inclosing the Resolve of Congress relative to the general superintendence of the Governor and Council of Virginia—for his direction —As Col. Bland in my opinion answers the description of the Officer...
83From George Washington to the Board of War, 4 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with yours of the 25 ulto inclosing papers relative to the opposition of the officers of the 1st Penna Regt to Capt. McKissacks introduction into that Corps—and of the 27th with papers respecting the dispute of Rank between Majors Murray, Mentges and Nichols. I will use my endeavours to have the first adjusted to the satisfaction of the parties, and will direct proper...
84To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
We beg leave to ask your Excellency’s opinion relative to a Mr Macpherson who is the subject of the inclosed memorial. His conduct and situation as represented in that, we believe to be justly stated; and we should chearfully have taken such notice of his merits as they deserved, could it have been done consistent with the establish’d rules of the army. He has been in the British army from his...
85To George Washington from the Board of War, 26 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 26 March. GW wrote the Board of War on 29 March : “I have the honor to receive your favours of the 25th and 26th with the Commissions mentioned for the Connecticut Officers.”
86From George Washington to the Board of War, 29 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to receive your favours of the 25th and 26th with the Commissions mentioned for the Connecticut Officers. The Boards ideas respecting the difficulties that would attend the introducing Mr McPherson into the line are certainly right. It cannot be done—or at least without exciting great discontent and producing many resignations. Nor do I think that he could be employed under a...
87To George Washington from the Board of War, 30 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 30 March 1779. GW wrote in his first letter to the Board of War of 4 April : “I have had the Honor to receive your favors of the 30th & 31st Ulto and two of the 1st Inst.—with the several papers to which they refer.”
88To George Washington from the Board of War, 31 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 31 March 1779. GW wrote in his letter to the Board of War of 10 April : “I have been duly honored with your favour of the 31st of, March, which, through hurry of business has been hitherto unanswered. From the relation in several respects between the duties of the office of Adjutant General and those of the Inspectorship; I pe[r]ceive advantages that...
89To George Washington from the Board of War, 1 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have agreed upon the enclosed Regulations for the Engineering Department in Addition to those made by Congress & in Consequence of their Orders. We have the Honour of enclosing a Copy of them to your Excellency previous to their being printed that if any Additions are to be made the whole may be struck off together. We thought it best to leave the Points of travelling Charges &...
90From George Washington to the Board of War, 4 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive your favors of the 30th & 31st Ulto and two of the 1st Inst.—with the several papers to which they refer. If Lieutenant Colo. Mebane was the oldest Lieut. Colonel in the North Carolina line when Colo. Hogan was promoted to the rank of a Brigadier, he unquestionably according to the principles of rank recomd should be appointed Lieutenant Colonel Commandant —and...
91From George Washington to the Board of War, 4 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Schott waits upon you with a Return of Arms and Cloathing wanting for the several Corps therein mentioned which are ordered over to Wyoming. The Cloathing could have been furnished from hence, but it will be so much more convenient to send it from Philada to Esterton upon the Susquehannah and from thence to Wyoming by Water, where it will meet the Troops, that I have directed Capt....
92From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board of General Officers to whom were referred the dispute of Rank between Majors Mentges, Murray and Nicholls having made the inclosed Report, I must request the Board to give them the information (thro’ me) which they call for respecting the appointment of Major Nicholls to the rank of Lieut. Colonel. In mine of the 26 March I desired to be informed of the number of Hunting shirts upon...
93To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with your Excellency’s Favours of the 26th of March & 2d & 4th April. All the Muskett Cartridges made up for a long time past including the whole now on Hand have been made up with Buck Shott agreeably to your Excellency’s Ideas. There are but five hundred Hunting Shirts in the Clothier Generals Store & no Materials for making more. We have been for a long time...
94To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
We suppose you have long since known that about thirty shoemakers draughted from the Maryland troops have been making shoes at Newark in Delaware State; a large proportion of which have been delivered to the clothier of that state, & the residue to the Clothier General. Those workmen have also made shoes & some boots for the officers in the Maryland line. Within a few days the director of the...
95From George Washington to the Board of War, 10 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your favour of the 31st of, March, which, through hurry of business has been hitherto unanswered. From the relation in several respects between the duties of the office of Adjutant General and those of the Inspectorship; I pe[r]ceive advantages that would result from uniting them in a certain degree; but I am induced notwithstanding to recommend, that nothing...
96From George Washington to the Board of War, 13 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd the inclosed from Capt. Von Heer. As I do not know how he has been supplied heretofore with the Articles he now calls for, I cannot determine upon the propriety of the present application. I can only say, if it appears that they are necessary, he ought to be furnished with them—If The Quarter Master supplied him in the first instance with Horses he can I suppose remember...
97To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with yours of the 8th inst. & in Consequence have enquired into the Affair of Lt Col. Nicholls promotion. The Certificate of Major Scull is enclosed on that Subject. We refer your Excellency to our Letter of Feby 23d —in which is candidly stated all we know of the Arrangement & the Concern we had in that Bussiness. The State of the Hunting Shirts you have no Doubt...
98From George Washington to the Board of War, 15 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favours of the 7th and 9th. It is infinitely to be lamented, that the Clothiers department still remains on so undecided and precarious a footing—The Board’s observation on the present expedient is evidently just. Our prospects for the future supply of cloathing from every thing that has come to my knowlege are truly deplorable. I am happy in the measures persuing to...
99From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favr of the 13th instant and those of Mr Scull of the 13th 15th and 19th—The number of Hunting shirts ordered to be made up by Otis and Henley will be fully sufficient, if they can be provided in time. I yesterday wrote to Boston and desired that they might be sent forward as fast as finished —Be pleased to direct Mr Mease to send on to Camp the ten thousand...
100From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of your favor of the 25th ultimo thro’ Col. Pickering. The extract of a letter from Mr Measam D.C.G. and the several objects to which it refers, will naturally claim the earliest notice. In particular the linen and blankets are greatly wanted for the troops; and the necessity of encreasing our supply of both so evident as to stand in need of no arguments to induce the board to...
101From George Washington to the Board of War, 5 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
In a letter from Colonel Brodhead, dated Fort McIntosh the 3d Ultimo, he has the following paragraph “There is a prodigious deficiency of Clothing and money in this department; some cloth has indeed been purchased in the State of Virginia, but the means of making it up are not provided; shoes and Linen cannot be had at any rate unless they are sent up by the clothier general.” He adds in...
102To George Washington from the Board of War, 7 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
For some time after the corps of artificers & Coren’s company of artillery for the laboratory were raised by Colonel Flower, pursuant to your Excellency’s orders, there was a good agreement between them: but at length the officers of artillery (themselves artificers) affected to despise the other officers, to whom the stile of artificers was annexed; and obeyed with reluctance the orders of...
103To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Officers of Col. Proctor’s Regiment have express’d great Uneasiness on Acct of the unsettled Situation of their Rank. They even threaten not to march without their Commissions. The Papers relative to this Regiment were a considerable Time ago sent to General Knox. We beg Leave to suggest to your Excellency the Necessity of arranging this Regiment if it be possible as great Dissatisfaction...
104From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your Letters of the 7th & 10th Instant. With respect to the matters submitted by the first—The Commissary General of Military Stores has certainly a right to direct in every thing relative to the execution of the public works, under his care—and every Officer stationed at the Laboratories is bound so far, to follow his directions. The rank of Lieut. Colonel which he...
105To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour of enclosing you Copy of a Recomendation of the Honble Council of this State on the Subject of Lieut. Col. Hubley. Your Excellency will no Doubt think proper to make the necessary Enquiries into the Matter & on your Certificate the Board will order the Commission to be issued to the Officer entitled thereto. We have the Honour to be with great Respect Your very obed. Servt...
106To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour to transmitt your Excellency Copy of a Letter to Congress from Brigadier General Irvine referred to the Board. As we think this like all other Disputes about Rank should go in the usual Line we request your Excellency will be pleased to lay it before a Board of Officers & on your Certificate we will report to Congress. As Col. Magaw who is absent may perhaps be affected by...
107From George Washington to the Board of War, 18 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you on the 14th instant I have discovered a mistake relative to the succession of Major Forrest to the vacancy occasioned by the death of Lt Col. Strobock. I then had in eye another vacancy which happend by the Resignation of Lt Col. Oswald; and did not recollect that it had been filled by Lt Col. Stevens. A multiplicity of business caused me to forget this...
108From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I herewith transmit the board two letters, one to Colonel Bland, the other to Lt Col. Washington with the resolve of Congress of the 7th, ordering them to proceed to join the Southern army. The inclosed copy of a letter from Lt Col. Washington has induced me to imagine that the resolve has not yet reached him. I therefore send the letters open, through the board, lest in their transmission I...
109From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 17th Instant. Besides the absence of General Hand and the want of a state of his claim—the Resolution of the 4th of February only authorises me to settle the rank of Officers under the degree of a Brigadier —and therefore at any rate the case between him and General Irvine could not be taken up without special authority for the purpose; which has...
110From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my letter of the 22d of April I mentioned the necessity of having 10.000 ⅌ shoes for the supply of the troops on the Western expedition. The Board in their answer to mine of the 25th gave me to hope that 4500 ⅌ would be ready in season at Lancaster for the purpose. I am now to request that these may be without delay forwarded up the River towards Sunbury: and that the Board will immediately...
111To George Washington from the Board of War, 23 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with yours of the 22d enclosing Letters to Col. Bland & Lt Col. Washington. Copies of the Resolve of Congress have been sent to the Officers commanding these Regiments merely for their Information. The Board avoid in all Cases except by the immediate Direction of Congress giving any Orders about the Movement of Troops presuming these Matters more properly to come...
112To George Washington from the Board of War, 24 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s letters of the 22d & 23d instant. In answer to the latter, we have to inform you, that Colo. Hooper has received by our orders 1600 pairs of shoes of Mr Oliphant director of the factory at Allentown, out of which he has supplied Colo. Spencers corps, and the residue he is to send to Wyoming. 1600 pairs now lie here in the clothier’s store packed in...
113To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d. We will report the Affair of Genl Irvine to Congress. He will doubtless think it hard that because he was taken Prisoner & could not be promoted in Season he should suffer as to his Rank. But the Reasons your Excellency offers are so forcible that it should seem impracticable to comply with Genl Irvine’s Wishes without very...
114To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have the Honour of transmitting the foregoing Extracts which will sufficiently explain themselves. It will never do in the present low State of our Magazines for any other Persons to draw upon them but those vested with the Authority by Congress. We have the Honour to be very respectfully your obed. Servants ALS , DLC:GW . Written above this letter were two extract copies of other letters....
115From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive Your several favors of the 23d 24th 25th & 25th Instant. I have spoken to the Quarter Master General upon the subject of Waggons and he has written, I believe, both to Mr Pettit & Mr Mitchell to use every possible exertion to obtain a supply. I am exceedingly pained—that we are so deficient in point of Arms. As to the demands you mention to have been made by...
116To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
By a private Letter from your Excellency shewn to one of the Board by General Wayne it appears your Opinion is different from ours on the Subject of the Quota’s the States are to raize. We were directed by Congress to give Information to the Legislature of New Jersey on an Application from the Government of that State on a Question put to Congress & sent them the Letter of which the enclosed...
117To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have recieved the Order of Congress, on the Subject of Baylor’s Regt, enclosed. We have no other Objection to the directing the Horses to be purchased but the excessive Price. It will cost near sixty thousand Pounds Currency to purchase the Numbers of Horses required. Yet on the Consideration, that the Men are provided with every other Article necessary to enable them to take the...
118To George Washington from the Board of War, 29 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the Honour to inclose you a representation of Major Ryan with General Wayne’s certificate annexed. We believe the Major capable of rendering great service as a Brigade Major & Inspector; and if his request can be granted we conceive he may be appointed to that Office without injury to the Service in general. We think his case singular, & that an exception may very properly be...
119From George Washington to the Board of War, 30 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit you an Arrangement of the Officers in the Maryland line—and have to request, that you will take the earliest Occasion that may offer to make out and forward Commissions agreable to it, except in the cases of No. 46—Benjamin Garnett 1st Lieut. 5 Reg. 13 Oct. 78 47—Parker Hall Lee do 4 do 16 do do 53—William Trueman Stoddart do 5 do 21 May 79
120From George Washington to the Board of War, 1 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I transmit you the arrangement of the three New-Hampshire Regiments which I have just received —and request you will make out and forward me the commissions as soon as it can be done. The board will perceive the several promotions that are to be made, and the dates which the commissions are to bear. General Hand writes me of an application for clothing wanted in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment....