4001General Orders, 22 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief is pleased to make the following promotions. viz: Major John Green of the 1st Virginia Battalion to be Lieutenant Colonel of the same, vacant by the death of Lt Col. Eppes. Capt: Robert Ballard of the same to be the Major of the same, vacant by the promotion of Lt Col. Green. Lieut. Col. Alexander Spotswood of the 2nd Virginia Battn to be Colonel of the same, vacant by...
4002To George Washington from Colonel Thomas Elliott, 22 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I make no doubt but you have been surprised why I did not comply with your Orders of the 12th Jany, in Joining my Regimt as soon as possable, in order to have the Troops Cloathed, Disciplin’d, and prepared to take the Feild early in the Spring; Your Letter (one I before wrote you) came to hand abt the tenth of Febry at which time I was much afflicted with an Inflamation in my Eyes, but hoped...
4003From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 22 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am again called upon for another meeting between Colo. Walcott & Mr Harrison to negotiate the Cartel—so long the Subject of Correspondence between Genl Howe & myself & those two Gentn. Without incurring further charge of delay, I could not defer their interview longer than next Friday morning; I therefore request that you will transmit me by Express, who may arrive here early enough on...
4004To George Washington from Joseph Reed, 22 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Person accidentally passing in a great Hurry gives me an Opportunity to acknowledge your Excellys Favour of the 14th Instt. Before I received it I had wrote you Col. Cox’s Answer to the Proposal of the Commissaryship for Prisoners & sent it to Philadelphia under Cover to Col. Moylan to be forwarded by the first good Oppy: his Absence I suppose has delayed it so that I must trouble you with a...
4005To George Washington from Colonel Israel Shreve, 22 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excelency’s Letter of the 12th Last, I this Day Receid in which a return of my Regiment in the Shortest time possable is Demanded. It shall be Done, and Let me assure your Excelency, nothing is more my purpose than to Satisfie you of my Duty. A return Should have been made Earlier, but it has not been in my Power as yet, I have not been Able to procure returns from my Captains, to whom I...
4006General Orders, 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
4007From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Palfrey having expressed a desire to settle the Accounts of his Office to this time, has obtained my permission to repair to Philadelphia and now waits on Congress with his Books & Vouchers, hoping that a Committee will be appointed to examine and adjust the same. The disadvantages which have arisen to the service and which have been severely felt for want of constant Supplies in the...
4008To George Washington from Colonel Ann Hawkes Hay, 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I think it my duty to give your Excellency every information in my power of the Motions of the Enemy, I beg leave to inform you that this day about Noon a Frigate and four Transports came to an Anchor near peekskill and immediately landed a Body of Troops without opposition, soon after I discovered a large fire, which increased in different places, till at last the Conflagration became...
4009From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you the 13th directing you to order eight of the Regiments of your State to march with the greatest expedition to peekskill. I then gave you my reasons for this alteration of my former orders. Altho’ I called upon you, in the most pressing manner, to hurry the Troops on, I cannot help again repeating my distress for the want of Men; the general Backwardness of the recruiting...
4010From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 23 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Major General Stirling, 23 Mar. 1777. Stirling wrote to GW on 24 Mar. that “I have Just now received your Excellencys letter of Yesterdays Date.”
4011From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 8th and 10th instant the first accompanying an account of the Committee of Simsbury against prisoners who were sent there by my order—There is no part of the charge to be objected against, but that of £9.6.0. said to be for the expence and trouble of the Committee themselves—I cannot see how either could have been incurred in so trivial a matter, or if any, that...
4012General Orders, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
4013To George Washington from Colonel Philip Burr Bradley, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have forwarded the Pay Abstracts for the Regt which I commanded last Campaign, the peculiar difficulties attending the making out of the Abstracts arising from our broken situation will I hope apologize for any small inaccurasies which may be discovered I have endeavoured to do them with as much precission as possible. Being appointed by Genl Parsons to superintend the Small Pox in the...
4014To George Washington from William Brown, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I am at present by Dr Shippen’s orders about to break up the General Hospital at this Place which is the only one in this part of the Country, not already brought to a conclusion, & the last Party of the Men will march this week, so that there will in a few days be no general Hospital nearer than that at Four-Lanes-End, which also will soon be broke up, Col. Read will be left totally...
4015From George Washington to Col. Lambert Cadwalader, 24 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Lambert Cadwalader, 24 Mar. 1777. The docket on Cadwalader’s letter to GW of 16 Mar. reads “16th Mar. Answer’d 24th ditto.”
4016To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your letter of the 21st I was with a Committee of Congress who had the business of the Cartel and other matters under consideration when your Excellencies letter was deliverd me—I had explaind the matter fully to the Congress & Committee I was two hours before the former and two Evenings with the latter—I believe the business of the Cartel will be settled agreeable to your...
4017To George Washington from Joshua Loring, 24 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Joshua Loring, 24 Mar. 1777. Charles Hamilton Autographs, Inc., of New York sold an LS that Loring wrote as British commissary for prisoners to GW concerning the “arranging an exchange of prisoners of war, and informing him that a number of American officer-prisoners had deserted from their paroles, setting forth the terms of their paroles and demanding their return to...
4018To George Washington from Captain John Paul Schott, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
This is to inform your Excelency that I applyed here for Money Armes and plankits but can’t get it without your Excelency is pleas’d to send me a Warrand I have twenty five men I am oblig’d to pay £1.1 pr week for Each men which I think is too much, if I can get plankits I shall put them in the Barraks at Lancaster I have promiss of about twenty men at fort Lauton where I shall go as soon as I...
4019To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just now received your Excellencys letter of Yesterdays Date, almost every Matter Mentioned in it Necessary to guard our out posts from any surprize; at the same time to Harrass them, were Contain’d in a set of Instructions which I gave to Colo. Hollinsworth, on his first going to Quibble Town. I shall again urge the same Matters to Colo. Rumsey, who now Commands there with about 300...
4020General Orders, 25 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
4021To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I most Heartily Congratulate your Excellency on the arrival of the French Storeship at Portsmouth Intelligence of which together with the Invoice of the Stores I suppose you Received Some Days Since ⅌ the Express, I hope this to be but the foretaste of a Plentifull Harvest from the Same Quarter, and Indeed this arrival is very Seasonable for without Some of the Arms, I Cannot at present See...
4022To George Washington from Colonel Jedediah Huntington, 25 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellencie’s Order of the 12th March I send a Return of my Regiment, am sorry it rises no higher, I could go out of Service with more Cheerfullness than I cam into it or make any other Sacrafice to accelerate this important Business—Major Sill will march with a Division of my Regiment as soon as they are able—the Men are but just leaving the Hospital—many of them had the...
4023To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 25 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Favors of the 12th & 15th instant. If the Enemy’s Intention is to draw their Force from Canada & content themselves, with preventing Us from Attempting to go into that Country, the Disposition Your Excellency has made of such of the Eastern Troops, as were intended for Tionderoga, is certainly a very judicious one, And if the Intelligence...
4024To George Washington from Capt. Francis Wade, 25 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Capt. Francis Wade, 25 Mar. 1777. GW wrote Wade on 28 Mar. : “I have yours of the 25th inclosing sundry Letters and papers.”
4025George 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.
4026General Orders, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Various opinions prevailing in the 9th Virginia Battalion, respecting the Rank of several of the officers in it, Major Genl Stephen will inquire into their respective claims, and state their Ranks agreeable to justice and seniority; of which he will make report. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
4027To George Washington from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was made very unhappy a Few days since by hearing your Excellency was exceeding Ill with a feaver, soon after had the pleasure hearing by Mr Learned you were so farr recovered as to be able to ride Out. my fears have not Intirely subsided I am still Anxious for your safety, and, Apprehensive your zeal for the Publick service will Induce you to exert yourself, before you are perfectly...
4028From George Washington to John Hancock, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday a letter, of which the inclosed is a copy, came to my hands. The account is confirmed by a Countryman who is since come in—but nothing distinct has yet been received. The aid required of me in Colo. Hay’s Letter cannot be given. I have no men to oppose the Enemy’s designs in any one quarter, altho’ called upon from every Quarter. All that was possible for me to do towards collecting...
4029To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour of transmitting such Resolves of Congress as have passed since my last, which are either relative to your Department, or necessary for your Information. The Congress have authorized you to proceed in the Exchange of Prisoners agreeably to the Cartel at present existing, or such other Regulations as you may think proper to make in the Matter, provided the Enemy will relax in...
4030To George Washington from Ebenezer Hazard, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Mr Hazard presents most respectful Compliments to his Excellency General Washington, and begs Leave to inform him that he has received a Letter from Boston this Evening, dated the 20th Inst. from which the following is extracted. On the 18th Inst. arrived at Portsmouth an armed Vessel, of 14 Guns, from France. Her Cargo consists of Twelve Thousand Stands of Arms, one thousand Barrels of...
4031To George Washington from Charles Hoff, Jr., 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I thought it my duty to inform your Excellency that one of our Men came just now to me and informed that several of our hands had last Night fled to the Regulars, and one of them informed him they were to be joined by three hundred more from Minisink, Goshen and other places. If there were Guards sent to the several Ferries and by places towards Hackinsack and Aquaquenunk I think they might be...
4032To George Washington from William Livingston, 26 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Livingston, 26 Mar. 1777. GW writes to Livingston on 1 April that “I have been honoured with yours of the 17th and 26th.”
4033From George Washington to William Shippen, Jr., 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the greatest reason to believe that soldiers, when they are dismissed the Hospitals, in which they have been, instead of joining the Corps they belong to, go strolling about the country at their own option, to the great detriment of the service. It is absolutely necessary, that a remedy should be provided against this evil in future, which can only be found in making it an invariable...
4034From George Washington to Col. Israel Shreve, 26 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Israel Shreve, 26 Mar. 1777. Shreve’s letter to GW of 22 Mar. contains a docket that reads in part “Ansd 26th 1777” and a memorandum in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Robert Hanson Harrison: “Ansd 26th Returns so essential—so necessary that they can no longer be dispensed with. The Officers must be called on who are recruitg and they must be made.”
4035To George Washington from Major General Joseph Spencer, 26 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Receiv’d your Excellency letter of 11th Instt and have carefully Observ’d the Contents Shall Endeavor faithfully to attend your Excellency’s advice therein given. We are but poorly prepar’d to defend the country here with the present Army, But I imagine that there is Great Reason to believe that the Enemy are about to leave Rhode island soon—Sundry people have lately made their escape from...
4036General Orders, 27 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The General having directed, that all Surgeons, who have the superintendency of Military Hospitals, should send all Soldiers whom they discharge, under the care of proper officers, to join their respective regiments, making report to the Commanding Officer of each regiment of the number of men so discharged, belonging to his Corps; desires that the commanding officer of the department, nearest...
4037From George Washington to Brigadier General George Weedon, 27 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 10th Instt from Philadelphia came duly to hand; in answer to that part of it which respects Captns Thornton & Washington I have to observe, that upon looking over the list of Virga Officers, and finding that neither of these Gentlemen in the common course of promotion (notwithstanding the number of vacancies which had lately happend in those Regiments) would, by several,...
4038General Orders, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Execution of Serjt Porterfield is suspended, by order of the Commander in Chief, ‘till Friday the 4th of April. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For Sgt. John Porterfield’s conviction of desertion and sentencing to be shot, see General Orders, 21 Feb. 1777 .
4039From George Washington to Colonel George Baylor, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to discover by your favour of the 26th Ulto that You have a prospect of getting your Horses. We want them much—Inclosed is a Letter to Mr Finnie the Depy Quart. Mast. Genl directing him to supply you with the Continental Rations for Horse. Mr James Mease of Philada, the Clothier General, will furnish you with Cloathing whenever You call upon him & send for them—I presume the Men will...
4040To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
yesterday I received the Honor of yours of the 13th Instant and immediately gave Orders Accordingly. Brigadiers General Nixon, and Glover with Colonels Greaton, Sheppard, Nixon, Putnam, Wigglesworth, Alding, Bigelow, and late Pattersons, Regiments I have Ordered to Peeks-Kill, Brigadier General Patterson, with Colonels Marshall, Brewer, Bradford, Frances, Bailey, Wesson & Jacksons Regiments to...
4041From George Washington to Captain Allen McLane, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have certain information that Lord Cornwallis returned from Jersey yesterday, and ’tis said they intend an attack upon this army with their joint force before Genl Green can rejoin us. I therefore depend upon your keeping a very good look out upon their line, and gaining every intelligence from people coming out of Town, that I may have the earliest notice of their movements or intentions I...
4042From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by your publication in the pennsylvania Gazette of the 19th instant that you have compleated your arrangement of Feild Officers, by means of which I hope the recruiting of your Battalions will go on more briskly than it has done heretofore. By the promotion of Major Butler and death of the Colonel and Lieut: Colonel, the eighth Regiment of your State is left without a Feild...
4043From George Washington to Colonel Joseph Trumbull, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I cannot, upon any principle whatever, Accot for, your inattention to my repeated requests to come forward to the Army, and regulate the business of your department, in this Quarter; The expediency alone of the measure, would, I expected, have prompted a visit; this not happening, I desired Captain Wadsworth to inform you, in my name, of the necessity there was for your attendance—and since...
4044From George Washington to Captain Francis Wade, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 25th inclosing sundry Letters and papers respecting some of the most notorious of the disaffected in the County of Monmouth. It is to ⟨be⟩ lamented that the States will not pursue the proper Methods to root out all such dangerous Enemies from among them, it is not in my power to do it at present, having sufficient work upon my Hands to watch the common and more powerful...
4045To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 28 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I herewith forward The Proceedings of A General Court Martial, held at Fairfield for the Tryal of William Stone, and Alexander Fulton. As They are now confined in Fairfield Goal, which is much surrounded with Tories, and threatned with a visit from Long-Island, I must beg Your Excellencys answer, and farther directions as soon as possible. There being no Judge Advocate, in this part of The...
4046From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 29 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress The Bearer, Monsr. Dorcet, is extreamly desirous of entring into the American Service, and goes over at his own Expence, contrary to my Advice (as I apprehend you have already more foreign Officers than you can possibly employ) and without the smallest Expectation given him by me of his obtaining a Place in our Army. This at least shows...
4047General Orders, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
4048To George Washington from Elisha Boudinot, 29 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Elisha Boudinot, 29 Mar. 1777. GW wrote Boudinot on this date “I recd yours of this day.”
4049From George Washington to Elisha Boudinot, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of this day and am much obliged to you for the pains you have been at to obtain intelligence. I highly approve of your plan to gain more, and enclose you a Sketch of such Matters as it will be proper for your Spy to report to deceive the Enemy. If he can do us no harm by reporting what is intrusted to him—You may add what you please, only taking care to keep a Copy and send it to...
4050From George Washington to Col. Philip Burr Bradley, 29 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Col. Philip Burr Bradley, 29 Mar. 1777. Robert Hanson Harrison docketed Bradley’s letter to GW of 24 Mar. in part: “Ansd 29th within.”