31George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Discusses necessity of concentrating forces. States that Philadelphia is enemy’s object. Weighs advantages of centralizing forces at Peekskill as against Ticonderoga. Df , in writings of John Walker, George Washington, and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Schuyler was at this time in Albany in command of the Northern Department.
32George Washington to Connecticut and Rhode Island Colonels, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Requests exact return of troops. Orders colonels to send all their men to join the Army. Instructs colonels to remain behind to complete their regiments.
33George Washington to New York Colonels, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Requests exact return of troops. Orders recruits to Peekskill. Instructs colonels to remain behind to complete their regiments.
34George Washington to Pennsylvania Colonels, 12 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 12, 1777. Requests exact return of troops. Orders men who have had smallpox to the Army, others to Philadelphia to be inoculated. Instructs colonels to remain in Philadelphia to supply their regiments.
35George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 15 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 15, 1777. Approves of McDougall’s decision to order troops to Forts Constitution and Montgomery instead of to Peekskill, New York. Approves stationing of Colonel Henry B. Livingston in Westchester to secure magazines. Urges inoculation when needed. Instructs McDougall to receive Massachusetts troops. Df , dated March 14, 1777, in writings of Robert H. Harrison...
36George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 15 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 15, 1777. Exhorts Sullivan not to imagine slights. Discusses separate commands. States that the only separate command is that of the Northern Department. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
37George Washington to John Rutledge, 17 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 17, 1777. Discusses proposed expedition against St. Augustine. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Rutledge was the chief executive of South Carolina. He was referred to as both governor and president of the state.
38Warrant for Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 21 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morristown, New Jersey ] March 21, 1777. An entry in George Washington’s “Warrant Book No 2” reads: “To Captain Alexr Hamilton for 1 Months Pay of the N. York Artillery to Jany. 1st—420 9/72 [dollars].” Another entry for the same date reads: “To Ditto of Do. For 2 Months Pay to 1st March—766 22/72 [dollars].” D , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
39George Washington to William Shippen, Junior, 26 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 26, 1777. Discusses the problem of soldiers dismissed from hospitals. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Shippen was chief physician of the Flying Camp. On April 11, 1777, he became director general of hospitals.
40George Washington to Brigadier General Nathaniel Heard, 7 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 7, 1777. Orders Heard to see that the number of officers is in proportion to the number of men. States that brigadiers must choose a field commander and must demand an exact return of troops. Df , in writing of H, endorsement reads “to General Herd and Wyne,” George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Heard was a brigadier general in the New Jersey Militia....
41George Washington to Joseph Reed or Colonel Cornelius Cox, 7 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 7, 1777. Orders release of “Mr. Smith” who had been acting as a spy for the Americans and was mistakenly arrested by Major General Benjamin Lincoln. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Joseph Reed had resigned as adjutant general and was residing in Philadelphia as a private citizen.
42George Washington to John Hancock, 12 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 12, 1777. Introduces Mauduit du Plessis and recommends his appointment as a captain of artillery. LS , in writing of H, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives. John Hancock was President of the Continental Congress. Thomas Antoine, Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis, was appointed a captain in the Continental artillery on April 15, 1777.
43George Washington to Robert Morris, George Clymer, and George Walton, 12 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 12, 1777. States objections to forming an army in Pennsylvania. Names Bristol as rendezvous. Orders Pennsylvania Militia to be kept at a distance from Continental troops until there is action. Again recommends removal of stores from Philadelphia. LS , in writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City. Df , in writing of Tench Tilghman with minor...
44George Washington to Brigadier General George Clinton, 20 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 20, 1777. Discusses whether enemy plans to attack Philadelphia or move up North River. Reminds Clinton to call out militia. Approves of placing a chain across the North River. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
45George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 23, 1777. Requests apprehension of a spy. LS , in writing of H, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.
46George Washington to John Hancock, 26 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 26, 1777. Gives instructions concerning pay of American prisoners. Discusses conduct and influence of Tories. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
47George Washington to Brigadier General Gurdon Saltonstall, 28 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 28, 1777. Refuses to comply with Saltonstall’s request for back pay. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. H signed this letter with his initials which he later crossed out. Saltonstall, a brigadier general in the Connecticut Militia, became ill soon after arriving in camp. He returned home and never rejoined the brigade.
48George Washington to the Massachusetts Legislature, 3 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 3, 1777. Transmits congressional resolve concerning defense of Ticonderoga. Df , in writings of Tench Tilghman and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
49George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 3 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 3, 1777. Approves detention of Seward’s company. States that the sailing of British ships from Amboy, New Jersey, necessitates further attention to British movements on North River. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California. Captain Thomas Seward, Third Continental Artillery.
50George Washington to Meshech Weare, 3 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 3, 1777. Transmits congressional resolve concerning defense of Ticonderoga. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress. Weare was president of New Hampshire.
51George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 7, 1777. Encloses letter to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, who is needed at Headquarters. LS , in writing of H, New-York Historical Society, New York City. Gates was in command of the Northern Department.
52George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 11 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 11, 1777. States that Major General Nathanael Greene and Brigadier General Henry Knox will inspect posts under McDougall’s command. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
53George Washington to Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 14 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 14, 1777. Orders Varnum to forward recruits despite the opposition of the Rhode Islanders. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
54George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 23 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 23, 1777. Commends McDougall on his attachment to the cause. Suggests that the needed food can be obtained at Albany. Agrees that uniformity of regulations is necessary and disapproves of officers breaking parole. LS , in writing of H, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
55General Washington to James Warren, 23 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 23, 1777. Commends Massachusetts’ exertions, but states that still more effort is necessary. Lists reasons why the invasion of Massachusetts is unlikely. Discusses the necessity and advantages of a single, unified army as opposed to individual state forces. Entreats Massachusetts, therefore, not to raise local regiments. States that supernumerary regiments can...
56George Washington to Charles Thomson, 24 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 24, 1777. Encloses copy of plan for establishing a cavalry force. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Thomson was secretary of Congress.
57George Washington to Robert Morris, 28 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 28, 1777. Encloses a letter from Major General Charles Lee. States that he (Washington) is on his way to Bound Brook. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress. Morris was a member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Continental Congress. Lee was a prisoner of the British.
58George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 29 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] May 29, 1777. Orders Sullivan to send intelligence concerning the enemy as rapidly as possible. Repeats orders for rerouting men and wagons. States that John Parke Custis is not to come by the usual road. LS , in writing of H, postscript in the writing of George Washington, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress. Custis was Martha Washington’s son by her...
59George Washington to Major General William Health, 1 June 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] June 1, 1777. Discusses arrival of Du Coudray. Approves of removal of military stores. LS , in writing of H, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. Philippe Charles Jean Baptiste Tronson du Coudray. By an agreement with Silas Deane, Du Coudray was to receive the rank of major general. Although Congress rejected this agreement, he did receive this rank in August, 1777.
60George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 June 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] June 1, 1777. Orders all troops not needed for the Long Island expedition to Peekskill, New York. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Parsons was in New Haven, Connecticut, recruiting men for the Continental Army.