1To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 17 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
The total liberation of the Southern States from an enemy, affords the Citizens a flattering prospect of a continuation of peace & tranquility; so that probably the troops of the middle States will be Ordered to return to the Northard in the course of the spring; be that as it may, the shock my constitution has met with from reiterated attacks of the fever, in this Inhospitable climate, render...
2To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Campaign in this Quarter being gloriously terminated under your Excellency’s auspices—I have to request the Indulgence of a short respite from the field. If that can not be granted, I must beg permission to advance at leasure (Independent of Command) until I join Genl Greene. This is a matter in which I am much Interested not only on acct of my Wound but my feelings your Compliance will...
3From George Washington to Anthony Wayne, 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Application is not a little distressing to me; and if comply’d with must have an unhappy influence on the Minds of the detachment which is going to the Southward—Colo. Stewart is already gone—and Colo. Butler on account of his Health is going. three of the first officers then in rank and consequence in the Pensylvania Line, to be away from their Troops when an important & interesting...
4To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wish you to do me the Justice to believe, that I never did not nor never will, be guilty of any Conduct, that will be prejudiced to a Cause in which my life Character & property are engaged. As a friend I told your Excellency my feelings & situation—as a soldier I will submit to every Difficulty. I only requested leave of absence for a short time, your Excellency has put it on a ground that...
5From George Washington to Anthony Wayne, 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
As you know that an enterprise against Wilmington is the first object in view for the detachment which is to March to the Southward, and that it is not more than half the distance of, and in the Rout to General Greene’s Army, I shall add no more on the subject, but leave you to act as you have requested—or, if it is more agreeable to you to be absent from the Army for a while, to consent to...
6From George Washington to Anthony Wayne, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I with the greatest Pleasure received your Acco. of the Action at Green Spring—as I had just before seen it thro’ the Channel of Mr Rivingston and you may therefore suppose in the most unfavorable Light—The Marquis de la Fayette speaks in the hansomest Manner of your own Behaviour & that of the Troops under your Comand in the Action. I think the Account which Lord Cornwallis will be obliged to...
7To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 27 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed are a letter Return &ca which I intended to forward sooner—the temper of the Gentlemen aluded to is altered much for the better, but the cause is not yet removed, tho’ I am informed in a fair Way. you will before this arrives have heard of the Intercepted letters from Lord G. Germain in which he has disposed of all matters to his mind on this side the North River & gives orders to Sr...
8To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 16 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Retreat of Lord Cornwallis to Portsmouth, & the advance of Colonel Tarlton with about nine hundred men, Cavalry, and Infantry towards South Carolina, probably with a view of putting General Greene in a disagreeable situation, has determined the Marquis la Fayette to order the Pennsylvania, and Virginia troops under my command to that quarter. The smallness of our numbers has also induced...
9To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 8 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
After a variety of Marches and counter marches frequently offering battle to Lord Cornwallis upon Military terms, the Marquis Lafayette recd Intelligence on the 5th that the Enemy had marched from Wmsburg for James town & were preparing to throw their baggage and troops over that river, this Induced the General to make a forward move to this place (with the Continental troops Including Major...
10From George Washington to Anthony Wayne, 9 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
It gave me great Pleasure to learn by yours of the 26th ulto. that You had marched from York Town, tho’ I was somewhat disappointed as to your numbers, as I had been made to expect they would be considerably larger. Sudden and exemplary Punishments were certainly necessary upon the new Appearance of that daring and mutinous Spirit which convulsed the Line last Winter, and nothing will make me...
11To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 26 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of Inclosing your Excellency a General return of the Detachment of Infantry under my Command, the return of the Artillery has not come to hand, it consists of One Major three Captains & Six subaltns & Ninety NonCommissioned Officers & matrosses with Six field pieces i.e. four six, & two three pounders. You have also the proceedings of two Courts Martial held at this post...
12To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your favor of the 18th Ultimo, an extract of which I immediately laid before Congress & the Executive Council of this State, accompanied by a letter to the latter of which the Inclosed is a Copy, with a view to stimulate them to facilitate the advance of the troops, but difficulties arrising in the manner of payment &ca &ca and perhaps an Idea that their services might be...
13From George Washington to Anthony Wayne, 8 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was duly favored with Yours of the 19th ulto, by Colonel Harrison—at the same time, that I commend the laudable efforts you made to have a Corps of the Troops of Pennsylvania in readiness to march with the Detachment under the Command of the Marquis De la Fayette, I deplore with you the causes which have occasioned this delay, and hitherto frustrated your endeavours. The critical situation...
14To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 19 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honored, & much Obliged by yours of the 26th Ultimo, & had the most flattering prospects of being able to march a decent Detatchment to co-operate with the Marquis, but the same supiness & torpidity that pervades most of our civel Councils, has prevented any part of the troops from moving, the executive council not having complied with their engagements, or made any essay towards it...
15To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your favor of the 3rd Instant and experience much happiness in your Approbation of my Conduct during the unfortunate Defection of the Pennsa line but as I am informed that the tounge of slander (among some Individuals in the State of N. Jersey) has not been Idle on this Occation I hold it my duty to mention that as far as Orders & example had Influence the persons & property...
16From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 26 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Congress, as you will have been informed, have determined that the Pennsylvania line shall compose part of the southern Army, and have ordered it to proceed to Virginia, in detachments, as they may be in readiness to march. I have given General St Clair directions to carry the Resolve into execution as speedily as possible —I think it essential that one of the Brigadiers should proceed with...
17George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 2, 1781 . Commends Wayne for conduct during mutiny. Excuses Wayne from recruiting. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Wayne had been in command of the Pennsylvania troops that had mutinied.
18From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 2 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
In mine of the 29th of January I partly answered yours of the 21st —Yours of the 17th had been duly received, and I am since favored with that of the 28th. I am satisfied, that every thing was done on your part to produce the least possible evil from the unfortunate disturbance in your line, and that your influence has had a great share in preventing worse extremities—I felt for your...
19To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 28 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Commissioners appointed by Congress have nearly closed the settlement of the Inlistments of the Pennsa Line, the last or Eleventh Regiment will be finished this Evening, we have now Discharged out of the Aggregate 1220 men so that we may count upon about 1180 Non commissioned Officers & privates as a nest egg, who are all furloughed by Order of the Committee until March & toward April,...
20George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 January 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Ringwood [ New Jersey ] January 27, 1781 . Discusses Pennsylvania and New Jersey mutinies. Discusses rank of “Capt Lieutenants.” Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
21From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 27 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 21st—The affair of your line has been singularly mortifying and disagreeable in all its progress. Its influence threatens the whole army. You will have heard of the revolt of part of the Jersey line. Last night we marched a body of troops to their huts to compel an unconditional submission and make examples of some of the leader⟨s—⟩The execution of this...
22To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 21 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to the Orders of the Commissioners appointed by Congress to settle the terms of Inlistments of the Pennsa Line, we have already Discharged, the Chief part of the Artillery, first, Second, third, fourth & fifth Regiments, I could wish that the Commissioners had given time for the Officers to produce the Attestations before they made the Oath so common, the papers were collected the...
23To George Washington from Brigadier Generals William Irvine and Anthony Wayne, 17 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote your Excellency on my Arrival at Princetown—but did not like to give you trouble as General Wayne informed me he had acquainted you minutely of every particular—the late turn affairs have taken you are also informed of—It was an exceeding unfortunate proposal of the Committee of Congress & Governor Reed—to take the Mens Oaths—a number of the inlistments being lost—all these...
24From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 16 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The receipt of your favor of the 11th Instant afforded great satisfaction, by informing me that the unhappy affair, which had given you so much trouble and anxiety, was likely, speedily to be settled. You will be informed by Major Genl St Clair, why I did not think it expedient (as matters were circumstanced) to give an answer to your last by the usual Route. I thank you for the hint given in...
25To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 12 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you yesterday morning by Mr Craig, since which I was honored with yours of the 8th Instant, it affords me great Consolation that the troops of the Other States have not yet attempted to follow the example of the Pennsa Line. When we Offered the terms Inclosed you the 4th Instant we had in View the General Line of the Army, & no Circumstance or Consideration could ever Induce us to...
26To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 11 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In mine of the 9th I had the Honor of giving you a particular account of our proceedings & Situation, yesterday Our Sergts or Commanders agreed as a preliminary to give us up the two Spies & that all such Soldiers as were entitled to their Discharges (which are but few) should Immediately give up their Arms & retire these were Articles which they took the Voice of the Soldiers on—who agreed to...
27From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 8 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 4th with the enclosures, by the Express, the Evening before last —I had been deliberating in my own mind, whether to continue at this place, or set out for Princeton, but am advised by the Governor of this State, and the General Officers with me (and which seems to be consonant to your opinion also) to remain here. As the ultimate measures might probably be...
28To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 8 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 3rd with a poscript dated the 4th at 7. OClock A.M. by Major Fishbourn came to hand last evening, the manner in which your Excellency has been pleased to Approve of the Conduct of the Officers in General, and ours in particular, Affords a Sensation which words can not express. It would have afforded us Infinate pleasure, had fortune put it into our power to Inform you that...
29From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 3-4 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this day, at Noon, recd yours of the 2d in the Morning, by Major Fishbourn, who has given me a full account of the unhappy and alarming defection of the Pennsylvania line. The Officers have given convincing proofs that every thing possible was done by them to check the Mutiny upon its first appearance, and it is to be regretted that some of them have fallen sacrifices to their Zeal. I very...
30To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne and Colonels Richard Butler and Walter Stewart, 4 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your own anxiety & distress of mind, is the best Criterion to judge of ours by—the Inclosed copy of Orders, propositions, Interogatories & Answers, will Inform you of our prospects & Situation. If with the assistance of the Governor & Council, or a Committee from that body, this unhappy business can not be settled, your presence & Influence will be more proper in an Other Quarter than with us....