3951From 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...
3952From George Washington to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Account given you by a Deserter as brought me by Mr Tilghman is confirmed by two Sailors who came off the Night before last from the Enemy, That Genl Clinton is arrived with his Army from South Carolina, & that Preperations are makeing for an early & vigorous Attack. They farther add that Last Sunday 1000 Hessians landed, Part of 12000, the Remainder beeing left off the Banks of Newfound...
3953To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your favour this morning and am very glad to find Mr Madison & Johnston here, who are immediatly from Staten Island—They intend to pay their respects to your Excellency; it will therefor be improper to take your time with relating what you will hear from those Gentlemen—That some Attempt will speedily be made with the greater part of the Enemies force, is confirmed by all Accounts—I...
3954From George Washington to Colonel Samuel Miles, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since your Departure from hence we have received Intelligence of the utmost Importance that Genl Clinton has arrived at Staten Island with the whole Southern Army—that the foreign Troops are arriving, the whole making a most formidable & alarming Force. By the Preparations making we have Reason to expect an early & very vigorous Attack for which we would wish to have more equal Numbers: Upon...
3955From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Associators, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I had fully resolved to have paid you a visit in New Jersey if the movements of the Enemy and some late intelligence indicating an early attack had not induced me to suspend it. Allow me therefore to address you in this Mode as fellow Citizens & fellow Soldiers, engaged in the same glorious Cause. to represent to you that the Fate of our Country depends in all human probability on the Exertion...
3956From George Washington to Brigadier General John Morin Scott, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
From your Brigade you are without delay to send as many prudent, Sensible, and Judicious Officers with such a party of Men as shall be found Necessary to apprehend those persons whose Names you will find in the enclosed List, they are to be conveyed to New Rochelle and there wait the Arrival of Others to go all together into Connecticut for a few days, or Weeks, as the Exigency of Affairs may...
3957From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As Capt. Bacon has been here in pursuit of some Duck and other Articles for the Northern Army and is now gone into Connecticut, I take the liberty of forwarding a letter for him to Gov. Cooke under cover to you, by which Capt. Bacon can be furnished with what Duck is wanting provided he does not meet with it in Connecticut. I wrote you particularly last evening by Mr Root of Hartford since...
3958To George Washington from William Watson, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Ma[r]tindale, the bearer of this will Inform your Excellency that he, when he was about to sail in the Continental arm’d Brigantine the Washington, was obligd to draw on the Agent, for sundry Articles in the cloathing way, (for the use of his people who were almost naked, and without which they co’d not go to sea) amounting to £80 L[awful] Money, which were delivd by Capt. Martindale...
3959From George Washington to Nathaniel Woodhull, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 6 Instt and am happy to find the Nomination I made of Genl Clinton in consequence of your request to appoint an Officer to the Command of the Levies on both sides Hudson’s River, has met the approbation of your Honble body. His acquaintance with the Country, abilities and zeal for the cause, were the motives that Induced me to make choice of him....
3960From George Washington to Nathaniel Woodhull, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
By this I mean to communicate to your Honble body the Substance of the Intelligence I received yesterday from Two Deserters that came the Evening before from the Solebay Man of War. They Inform that they were in the Engagemt at Sullivans Island & give nearly the same Account as that transmitted by Genl Lee which you would See published by Congress. They add that they left South Carolina about...
3961To George Washington from Nathaniel Woodhull, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Convention of the State of New York to enclose to your Excellency sundry Resolutions which they have entered into in Consequence of part of your Letter of this date. The Convention have further Measures in Contemplation for the Sucurity of this State, which they conceive of the utmost Importance to the general Cause of America. So Soon as they are determined on, I shall...
3962General Orders, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Lieut. Sergeant of the Artillery, with two Field Peices, to attach himself to General Heath’s Brigade, with the Ammunition Carts, as ordered by Col. Knox; while time will permit, he must manœuvre with the Regiments of the Brigade, and practise as much as possible. The Horses not to be taken away from the Carts, but kept with the driver in some convenient place contigious to the Brigade...
3963To George Washington from Thomas Cheesman, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
[C.9 August 1776] . Accuses Lt. Col. Herman Zedwitz of misappropriating or withholding the personal effects of his son, Capt. Jacob Cheesman, “who fell at the unsuccessful Attack of Quebec. . . . Your Petitioner therefore humbly begs that your Excellency would be pleas’d to order him to Account for his Conduct in the Premisses by such Ways and Means as to your Excellency shall seem best.” DS ,...
3964From George Washington to Brigadier General George Clinton, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 2d Instant is duly Received enclosed you have a Resolution of the provincial Convention which came to hand last Evening, by which you will please to Regulate your Conduct, I must beg you to Inform Me as soon as possible what number your Brigade now consists of—and what number it will contain when a fourth part of the Militia are drafted agreeable to Order of provincial Congress....
3965From George Washington to Colonel Lewis Duboys, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 5th by your Br[other] is Received[.] by him I forward you 800 Dollars, would have you order your Regt to March for this place as fast as an Officers party are enlisted, You will make a return to Me immediately of the number of Men already embodied, and Continue to make your returns by which you may call for Money as wanted, I conceive that taking Men from the 4 or 5 Months...
3966To George Washington from Brigadier General Nathanael Greene, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Hand Reports the three Ships mentioned in my last Evenings Report gone down through the Narrows, are at Anchor in and a little below the Narrows—I was at Red Hook this morning about three OClock, but nothing further had been discovered neither has there since, that has come to my knowledge. General Herd gives furloughs to the Troops of Col. Foremans Regiment. I conceive it to be...
3967To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with peculiar pleasure that I acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys favour of yesterday, since I cannot but consider it as an additional mark of that confidence with which your Excellency has hitherto honoured me. I have made the proper use of it, & imparted it in confidence to those members of the Convention on whose secresy I thought I could most safely rely, & from whose...
3968From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 9 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 9 Aug. 1776. In his letter to GW of 12 Aug. , McDougall refers to “your Excellencys favor of the 9th.”
3969To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellencys Letter—Col. Miles will march with all his Riflemen —The two Battalions will make about 700—As we have numbers of Rifle men lately arrived—it seemd to me more for the Service to order the 2d Batn and it will be more agreable to the men—I hope they will be in time to render you essential Service—A Cowardly, infamous Spirit of Desertion, prevails here too...
3970To George Washington from the New York Convention, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
We received Your Excellency’s favors of Yesterday and have agreable to Your request made out General Clintons Appointment. As Your Excellency seemed to think the Militia necessary and had accordingly called them out both from this and the New England States; we upon finding that they served with great reluctance at this busy Season and were constantly quitting their Posts to return to their...
3971General Orders, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Great Complaints are made of the soldiers taking away the flat bottom’d Boats, which may now be wanted for the most important purposes; The General absolutely forbids any person, medling with them, at the place where they are stationed but by order of General Putnam, in writing, or by one of his Aide-de-Camp; and the officer of the main guard is to detach a Subaltern, and thirty men, who are...
3972From George Washington to Timothy Edwards, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered you by Saml & John two of our friends of the Stock bridge Indians who have been here and expressed the desire of their people to become part of the Army of the United States. Havg wrote you fully on the 7 Inst. & transmitted a Copy of the Resolutn of Congress upon this Subject, which I presume will have reached you before this comes to hand, I have referred them to you...
3973To George Washington from Brigadier General Nathanael Greene, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Hand reports three Ships at the Hook. A large Schooner saild from the watering place late yesterday in the Afternoon. she seems to direct her course towards Amboy this morning. From the fireing heard at Sea last Evening tis supposd the remainder of the Hessian fleet is at hand. Every thing at the watering place remains quiet. Nothing remarkable has happened in this Camp since Yesterdays...
3974To George Washington from Brigadier General Nathanael Greene, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Hand reports a large body of Regulars are drawn up at the ferry on Statten Island; and boats ready to Imbark. I am Sir Your Excellency’s Obedient Servant ALS , DLC:GW . Although Samuel Blachley Webb endorsed this document: “General Greens Report Long-Island 10 July 1776,” he evidently erred in regard to the month. The tenth day of July 1776 was a Wednesday, while 10 Aug. 1776 was a Saturday.
3975To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Conceiving it highly necessary you should be informed as soon as possible of the Promotions the Congress were yesterday pleased to make in the Army of the American States, I do myself the Honour to enclose you a List of the same by Express. The Continental Battalion, commanded by Colonel Haslet, will begin their March this Day for the Jerseys; where, on their Arrival at Amboy, the Colonel has...
3976To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am this Minute honoured with your Favour of the 8th and 9th inst: per Post. Having sent off an Express this Morning, at which Time, I forwarded Commissions for the General officers appointed yesterday by Congress, I shall not detain the Post to send the Commissions ordered by the enclosed Resolve. In the mean Time, you will please to direct the Persons to do such Duty as you shall think...
3977From George Washington to Colonel Ann Hawkes Hay, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 2d & 7th Inst. are duly Received The Commissary General to whom I had refered the matter of your appointment was to have wrote and desired you to undertake the Business, since which it is determined those troops under General Clinton are to March to Kingsbridge and of Consequence will receive their supplies from the General Store there —It cannot be long before matters may...
3978To George Washington from Colonel Thomas McKean, 10 August 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Colonel Thomas McKean, 10 Aug. 1776. In his letter to McKean of 13 Aug. , GW refers to “your Letter of the 10th Instt.”
3979To George Washington from Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received the favour of two Letters from your Excellency this forenoon —In consequence of them Shall push forward to N. York as many of the Troops as I can prevail on to march—Col. Attlees Battalion of Musketry will march this Afternoon —Col. Miles’ two Battalions of Riflemen set out this Morning—A Tender of 10 Carriage Guns came up this Morning—to Billups point—was under Sail about an hour...
3980To George Washington from Colonel William Richmond, 10 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This Moment Arived Capt: Harris, Who brings us the Following inteligence—That Thursday Last he fell in with a Fleet and Distinctly counted 103 Sail, 17 of which he took to be Ships of War, the Rest Transports, About 15 Leagues S.E. B[y] S. from Nantucket Shoals, their Coarse W.N.W. Close to the wind, About the Latitude of Sandy Hook, the next Morning 10 oClock saw 9 Sail supposed to be part of...