1From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 4 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for asking my commands to Fredericksburg. It is not my wish to be your competitor in the purchase of any of Mr Hunters tradesmen: especially as I am in a great degree principled against increasing my number of Slaves by purchase and suppose moreover that Negros sold on creadit will go high. yet if you are not disposed to buy the Bricklayer which is advertized for Sale, for your own...
2From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter from Eastown of the 31st ulto. Before this the Quarter Master General will have transmitted you orders. I have to request after their execution, that you will immediately repair to the main army at Dobbs’ ferry—by way of the Two bridges. I am Dr Sir Your obt & hble sert LS , in James McHenry’s writing, ViHi ; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . On 31 July, Lee...
3From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 31 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for your several favors of the 1st 11th & 17th instt, and shall reply to them in the order of their dates:But first let me thank you for the interesting communications imparted in them. The picture which you have drawn, & the accts which are published, of the commotions & temper of numerous bodies in the Eastern States, are equally to be lamented and deprecated. They...
4From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 2 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
If this letter should happen to find you in Philadelphia, the intention of it is to bring you acquainted with the situation of Messrs Reed & Ford’s engagement to transfer (after the 28th of March) seventy shares in the Bank of Columbia on your account for my benefit. On my way home, I placed their obligation in the hands of a Gentleman within the District of Columbia, for the purpose of having...
5From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 20 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
The plan proposed for taking A——d (the out lines of which are communicated in your letter whh was this moment put into my hands without a date—has every mark o⟨f⟩ a good one—I therefore agree to the promised rewards, and have such entire confidence in your management of the business as to give it my fullest approbation; and leave the whole to the guidance of your own judgment, with this...
6From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday I recd this day—& have only to thank you for it and its inclosure —except that I wish you to pay the strictest attentn to the movements of the enemy below, lest they may undertake an excursion into the Jersey—by the way of ta[p]pan or elswhere; of this should it take place, I must request the earliest information—it may be well in order to accomplish this knowledge to...
7From George Washington to Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 25 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favors of the 21st and 22d from Dover and am much obliged for the Steps you have took and are taking for procuring Supplies for the Army. All the Cattle that are tolerably fit for slaughter must be immediately consumed on account of our present necessity, and therefore should be drove towards Camp as fast as they can be collected. I do not think that Kent in Maryland or any part of...
8From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 25 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 21st: No occurrence has happened since I wrote to you last, except the evacuation of Stoney and Verplanks Points, which took place on the 22d. I have not heard from Rhode Island since the 15th when Genl Gates wrote me that the enemy were seemingly making every preparation for evacuating that place also —Should Count D’Estaing reach the Hook without touching at the...
9From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 12 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will see by the inclosed letter to Lord Stirling, which you will be pleased to deliver him, the footing upon which the affair is placed. If upon confering with him, the enterprise is judged elegible, it will be carried into execution. I am Dr Sir Your most hble servt. Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . See GW’s first letter to Stirling of this date . GW...
10From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 26 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor by Capt. Rudulph I received yesterday —He has my directions respecting Cloathing for your Officers. As you think the two serjts named in your list officers worthy of promotion, I approve the appointments—the remove of your Qr Mr into McLanes company I also consent to—but, the appointment of an extra capt. in the Corps & 3 subs under McLane I cannot conceive necessary, the former you...
11From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 5 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
Ascribe my silence to any cause rather than the want of friendship, or to a disinclination to keep up a friendly intercourse with you by letter. Absences from home, hurry of business, company, &ca, however justly they might be offered, are too stale & commonplace, to be admitted. I therefore discard them. Throwing myself upon your lenity, and depending more upon your goodness than on any...
12From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 30 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yr favor dated 27th inst. was handed to me to day by Capt. McLane, inclosing your proposals for the incorporation of his company with your Corps —The measure is desireable, & I should be happy were it in my power at once to authorise you to proceed on the business, but not being vested with sufficient powers to change the establishment of a Corps —the plan must be referred to Congress In doing...
13From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 10 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd the inclosed intelligence which I have transmitted to Lewis town at the Capes of Delaware, in hopes it may meet Count D’Estaing there. But should he have left Delaware before my dispatches reach him, you will, upon his arrival off the Hook, communicate the inclosed with such other occurrences as may have come to your knowledge. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt. Df , in Tench...
14From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 25 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with yours of the 21st which came to me open under cover with other dispatches from Lord Stirling. I would wish you in future, to send your dispatches to me sealed, and communicate any thing, necessary for my Lord to know, to him separately. When an enterprise of any kind is in agitation the fewer to whom it is intrusted the better, and as to the particular business upon...
15From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 27th Ult. with its enclosures, came safe to hand. When the negociable note for $1000 is paid, and the 30 barrels of Corn are received, the amount of both will be carried to your credit. I am told that the present price of Wheat in Alexandria is 8/ but I can fix no price now for what may be delivered 2, 3, 4 or even 6 months hence, or, perhaps, not at all (if you depend upon...
16From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 24 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
Accompanied by the Marquis de la Fayette, Captn Grancheau & the Chevr Caraman, I am just arrived at this place. The Marquis joins me in wishes to see you—come then to Dinner tomorrow, or as soon as you can make it convenient. I have heard since I came home, indeed at Dumfries, of some dispatches which went down for me from the Commee; but none have yet got to hand. I should be glad to receive...
17From George Washington to Capt. Henry Lee, 8 November 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. Henry Lee, Jr., 8 Nov. 1777. Lee’s letter to GW of 8 Nov. is docketed in part “ansd 8.”
18From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of yesterday. You will proceed with your corps with as much expedition as you can without injuring your horses, to the vicinity of Suffrans. Baron De Kalb is directed to have two companies of light infantry formed to join you there and act with your corps. He is to endeavour to have a junior officer to you to command it, that the whole may be under your direction....
19From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have received advice from New York of the arrival of Admiral Greaves at the hook with six sail of the line the 13th —We think it very extraordinary if the fleet has arrived that we should have heard nothing of it from you. Should you not have sent off an account before this comes to hand, immediately dispatch a dragoon to confirm or contradict the report, for it may be very injurious to us...
20From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 9 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours respecting Mr Archer a few days ago, but I have been so exceedingly engaged that I have not had leisure to answer it before this time —It would give me great pleasure to make provision for a Gentleman of Mr Archers merit in a way that should be perfectly satisfactory to him, and could your request in his behalf be granted without infringing the establishmt of your Corps, I should...
21From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 23 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your report of the attack of Powles Hook transmitted by Capt. Rudulph which I have forwarded to Congress by Lieutenant McCalester. I shall be sorry if this should be contrary to your wish or Capt. Rudulph’s expectation, as I have the best opinion of this Gentleman’s merit. My motives for sending Mr McCalester with the dispatches were that he commanded one of the forlorn hopes...
22From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 7 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with yours of the 5th I take it for granted that the measures you mean to pursue for cutting off the intercourse between the Country and the enemy will be such as will [be] justified by circumstances, and not incompetent with the laws which the state of Jersey have passed for that purpose. It will be well to inform yourself particularly of the laws which are in force on...
23From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 2 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have an account from New York that a fleet with two Regiments and a detachmt of Artillery was to sail on the 29th ulto for Hallifax accompanied by all the heavy ships of War except the Europa—The Daphne Frigate for England was to sail at the same time. I mention these matters to you, that you may compare them with your accounts from the shore—I have reason to beleive that part of the Hulks...
24From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 19 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16th. You mistook the point of giving me intelligence as by recurring to your instructions you will find. I now depend on you for information of every occurrence, which will save General Foreman the trouble of a business which I could only with propriety request the favor of him to discharge till another could be sent to undertake it. For the future you will...
25From George Washington to Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 20 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Altho I have given you my thanks in the general Orders of this day for the late instance of your gallant behaviour I cannot resist the Inclination I feel to repeat them again in this manner. I needed no fresh proof of your merit, to bear you in remembrance—I waited only for the proper time and season to shew it—these I hope are not far off. I shall also think of & will reward the merit of...
26From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 27 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
You may remain in your present position till further orders. In the mean while and without delay I request you to reconnoitre the country well about Totawa and between that and Pompton by the routs of Col. Deys & Prekenis; and report to me the kind of roads—passes—and quantity of green forage, with other circumstances that come under a military view. I am Dr Your ob. ser. P.S. There is a...
27From George Washington to Capt. Henry Lee, 31 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Capt. Henry Lee, Jr., c.31 Oct. 1777. Lee’s letter to GW of 31 Oct. is docketed in part “Ansd.”
28From George Washington to Captain Henry Lee, Jr., 12 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the pleasure to inclose you a letter from the president of Congress, advising you of the promotion of yourself, Lieut. Lindsay and Cornet Peyton, I shall be glad to see you as soon as possible, that we may fix upon the other Officers for your Corps, and devise ways and means of procuring the additional Men, Horses, Arms and Accoutrements If Capt: Lindsay has not rejoined you it...
29From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 28 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have rec’d your letter dated yesterday & thank you for the information it contained I have now to request that you will endeavour to employ some person, in whom you can confide, & at the same time that is intelligent, to go into the works at stoney point, or if admittance is not to be gained, otherwise to obtain the best knowledge of them he can, so as to desc⟨r⟩ibe the particular kind of...
30From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 30 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I herewith inclose you an extract of my latest intelligence from New-York, so far as it respects the particular business in which you are now engaged. I am of opinion that the numbers are over-rated—But the Count d’Estaign should he come this way, will determine for himself. We have advice by a private letter from Philadelphia that on the 9th inst. the Count was to have attacked the British...