51To 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...
52To George Washington from the Board of War, 12 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from General Thompson is transmitted to your Excellency to correct a mistake he made of the name of a captain in the 21st British regt proposed to be exchanged on parole, the board being informed that the determination of the matter is by Congress referred to your Excellency. We are, with great respect, your very obedt servants ALS , DLC:GW ; copy, MHi : Pickering Papers....
53To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board do themselves the Honor to inclose you some papers relative to the annexing Porters, Jones, Lees and the Company late Corens to the regiment of Col. Procter. The Board would be glad Your Excellency would be pleased to arrange them in such manner as you think proper, under the powers delegated to you by Congress. If however you should think proper to decline it from any reasons which...
54To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from the Board of War, 9 Sept. 1778. On 19 Sept., GW wrote the Board of War : “I have been honoured with the Boards Letter of the 9th Inst.” In a report of the Board of War to Congress on clothing, 5 Oct. 1778, they stated: “In a letter of the 9th [to GW] we suggested that the drafts were not intitled to new cloathing—that where necessity obliged us to clothe them, it might...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To George Washington from the Board of War, 19 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
We had the honour of receiving your letter of the 14th inst. by Captain Bowman, who arrived here yesterday, with capt. Joel, whom we have committed to the care of Colo. Nichola to keep in safe custody, at the same time to treat him with kindness and respect; in which condition he will remain till we hear further from your Excellency. We regret that Genl Knyphausen should not think himself...
58To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Congress having been pleased to grant to the Marquis de Vienne (a major in the armies of his most Christian Majesty) the brevet commission of Colonel —we do ourselves the honour to signify it to your Excellency; and to intimate the wishes of the Marquis to be employed in some service of utility to the states, and in which he may have an opportunity to manifest his military talents & zeal for...
59To George Washington from the Board of War, 21 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Captain McIntire the Bearer represents to the Board that from some former Orders of ours he does not think himself at Liberty to leave the Western Department & join the main Army & has desired a Letter to your Excellency containing our Assent to his serving in the Army under your immediate Command. We have represented to him the Embarrassments which will attend his Promotion or Command in the...
60To George Washington from the Board of War, 23 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have before the Reciept of your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject press’d the Commercial Committee to procure a farther Supply of Powder. We have confidentially informed Monsr Gerard of our real Situation & requested his interesting himself on his Arrival in France to expedite one hundred Tons of Powder, one hundred Tons of Lead & ten thousand Arms so as to arrive before the Spring & he...
61To 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...
62To George Washington from the Board of War, 2 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board request your Excellency will be pleased to furnish them with an account of the places you have fix’d upon as Magazines for State supplies of provisions throughout the United States specifying the quantity and quality of the articles which you have directed to be deposited at the several posts. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Yr Excellys Most Obedt Servt LS , DLC:GW ....
63To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with your Letter of the 3d inst. We are taking every Measure in our Power to procure Shot & Shells & shall provide the greatest Quantity our Means will enable us. We agree with your Excellency in the Expediency & Propriety of looking forward to another Campaign in all Supplies necessary for the Army. Nothing shall be wanting on our Parts but we fear the public...
64To 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...
65To 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...
66To George Washington from the Board of War, 23 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board being called upon to make provision of clothing, Arms, accoutrements, Horse furniture &ca for the Cavalry; have the honor to request that you will be pleased to order returns to be made to them of the Articles necessary to be procured for each corps under your Excellency’s immediate command. They would Also wish to have returns of the Strength of the corps in horses & men—and of the...
67To 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...
68To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of the British & German Prisoners of War for Want of Cloathing is very distressing, & that Misery is chiefly produced by a total Neglect of the Enemy to send them Supplies. The Prisoners in Philada Gaol are perishing with Disease & Nakedness. The putrid Fever rages among them to a great Degree & we find ourselves extremely embarrassed in our Endeavours to establish a separate...
69To 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....
70To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board forwarded a letter yesterday from Col. Wood, to your Excellency, which contained some papers from Brig. Hamilton for New York. If they are permitted to go in, Lt Conolly Coan of the 62nd British regt, who brought them to this place—& who is permitted to return to Ireland, his native Country, by Congress, for the benefit of his Health—wishes still to be the bearer of them, as (he...
71To 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 &...
72To 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...
73To George Washington from the Board of War, 12 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of the 8th inst. the Infantry of majr Lee’s Corps (the Cavalry it is presumed has Joined the Army) had arrived at Richmond where the board suppose they will remain until your further orders about their destination. The board thought proper to submit that part of your letter where you Speak of your weakness in Cavalry, to the consideration of...
74To 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...
75To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having received Information that a considerable part of the Enemy’s Fleet had sailed from Sandy Hook to the Southward, & judging that immediate Steps were necessary to be taken for the preservation and Defence of this City, were pleased to vest us with all their powers to effect this important Business —As Genl Mifflin has a considerable Influence in this place, the Board judge it...
76To George Washington from the Board of War, 11 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Early in the Spring Mr Garanger shewed to the board a letter from Colo. Hamilton signifying your Excellency’s wish that he would proceed to camp to exhibit the requisite proofs of skill in his profession as an officer of Bombardiers to intitle him to employment in the United States. On that occasion we advanced him five hundred dollars. In May he returned hither, without having made any...
77To 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...
78To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Letter of the 5th Instant. The representation of the Inhabitants of Northumberland, in favour of Colo. Weltner, was sent to your Excellency on a supposition that you had received an accusation presented to the Council of this State, charging Colo. Weltner with Misconduct & Ill treatment of the Inhabitants. We had directed the papers we received from Council to...
79To 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...
80To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured by your Letters of the 11th. We are much obliged by your ready Compliance with our Request contained in our Letter of the 3d & we hope substantial Benefits will acrue from the Measure. Col. Mitchell was pointedly directed to proceed to Camp this Day. We believe he has complied with the Orders ⟨w⟩e gave; if not Nothing shall be wanting on our Part to accelerate his...
81To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Upon the application of the Honble the Board of Admiralty we have given them an order to receive of Colo. Stevens the two tons of powder & such of the naval stores and other materials collected at New London for fixing the fireships, as should be wanted for the frigates Trumbull and Bourbon. That board also requested an order for two tons more of powder on the magazine at Springfield; but this...
82To George Washington from the Board of War, 24 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have recieved a letter from Mr Pausch, Surgeon Major of the Hessian regimt of Knyphausen, informing that Major de Stein on his return from New York—brought a letter from Genl Knyphausen to Genl St Clair, intreating that Mr Pausch might be permitted to go into New York. Genl St Clair informs us that he communicated Genl Knyphausen’s letter to your Excellency, and that you consented to his...
83To George Washington from the Board of War, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Hancock and Adams, loaded from France with military Stores and other Articles for the Use of the Continent, was taken by a Rhode Island Privateer, and carried into the Port of Dartmouth in New England. The Muskets, Powder, Lead and Gun-flints are to be delivered, by Virtue of the enclosed Resolution of Congress, to the Order of this Board. We have wrote to the Committee of Bedford, in...
84To George Washington from the Board of War, 14 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. White of the 10th Pensylvania regiment came here lately with Colo. Humpton’s orders from camp to take with him 5300 lbs. of raw hide to exchange with a shoemaker for boots and shoes for the officers of that regiment. Mr White accordingly recd twenty pairs of boots (a pair for each officer) & forty pairs of shoes. He said Colo. Humpton had your Excellency’s orders for making this...
85To George Washington from the Board of War, 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
From the want of regularity in issuing the commissions for the Army, previous to the resolve of Congress vesting that business in the board —There is no register, nor any thing else sufficiently authentic to refer to, without reading over all the Journals of Congress—to find out the Officers whose names are to be reported agreeably to the inclosed resolution. The board therefore take the...
86To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Congress having entered into the Inclosed Resolution of the 21st of April; The Board have been considering of such Methods of carrying it into execution as would be most advantageous to the Public, and at the same time be most likely to procure an immediate Supply to the Prisoners: They have attempted to get the Bills negociated in New York, but the demands of the persons they applied to, were...
87To 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...
88To George Washington from the Board of War, 4 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Samuel Potts Esqr. is ⟨desirous⟩ of ⟨conferring⟩ with his Brother Mr John Potts on the Lines. His Brother is about taking his Departure for England. As his Request comes most properly within your Excellency’s Determination we have referred Mr Potts to you making no Doubt of your granting him what he requires if you can with Propriety. We believe Mr Potts entitled from his Character...
89To George Washington from the Board of War, 7 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board are desirous of sending by a Flag about fifteen hundred Shirts & fifty Barrells of Flour & a Quantity of Medesins to the Prisoners at Charles Town. We beg your Excellency therefore to procure Permission from Sr Henry Clinton for the Schooner Blazing Starr Burthen Ten Tons Thomas Smith sailing Master Charles McCarthy Flagg Master & two Seamen to enter the Harbour of Charles Town with...
90To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We were duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject of Mr Loring’s request for a Quarter Master & a Serjeant or two to proceed to Philadelphia with Cloathing for the Prisoners at this Place. In Consequence we wrote to Congress the Letter a Copy whereof is enclosed. We are directed to take Order in the Bussiness & are of Opinion that the Cloathing should come on attended in such...
91To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
We send you a Copy of Baron Steuben’s Regulations which he requested we would get neatly bound & transmitt your Excellency The Impossibility of having it done sooner must excuse the Delay. The enclosed Drafts of a Standard for the Army are sent for your Approbation, Rejection or Alteration. The Officers will be by & by pressing for Colours & if Materials can be procured they shall be made when...
92To George Washington from the Board of War, 28 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject of the Jersey Arrangements the Board (fully sensible from Experience of the Justice of your Observations on the Impropriety of the individual States interfering in such Cases) reported the Matter to Congress in Hopes of an Alteration in the System being produced. But we are this Day informed that Congress have been pleased to negative...
93To 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...
94To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 2d inst. & are extremely concerned at the Want of Shoes. We hope some Relief may be drawn from the Commissaries in the Vicinity of the Army & we will put in Motion all the Shoes there are in the Hands of those more remote. Mr Henry is now in Town & will exert himself as much as possible. He has about eight thousand Pair which were...
95To 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...
96To 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...
97To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Letter of the 8th and have communicated to Mr Murray and Major Stein the mode of procuring the Exchange of the latter for Major Murray as pointed out by your Excellency and which we think very just and right both as to the Thing itself and the manner of conducting it. We will enquire into the Numbers of Men of the marching Regiments detained as Artificers. These...
98To George Washington from the Board of War, 8 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have been honoured with yours of the 2d instant relative to the Massachussetts Line. The Commns were delayed by some Embarrassments thrown in the Way by the Government of the State who had made Appointments clashing with the Arrangement as made at Camp & as now confirmed by Congress agreeably to a Report of the Board. These Difficulties being removed the Commissions are now ready &...
99To George Washington from the Board of War, 10 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Committee of Congress appointed for the purpose having met the board this morning, after a full consideration of the subject, the following route was agreed on for the march of the Virginia troops to South Carolina; viz. Those troops to embark at Trenton with their baggage & proceed to Christeen, & cross to the Head of Elk; there to embark again & proceed down the bay to Williamsburg,...
100To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Board have to acknowledge the Reciept of your Excellency’s Letters of January 10th, 31st & Feby 19th & 23d. The two first should have been answered sooner but the first was mis laid & we waited to have the Determination of Congress on the Subject of the second which is not yet recieved. It is a standing Instruction to the Commissaries of Hides to make Leather Caps out of all Leather which...