1To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to General Schuylers Commands, I left Albany the Instant with Starks[,] Poor’s, Read’s, & Paterson’s Regiments; Greaton’s, Bond’s, & Porter’s, having Sailed from thence the day before, Bedel’s remaining to Embark the next day, as Sloops were not then ready to receive them. Upon my Arrival at Esopus I sent Brigade Major Stoddard to New Windsor to Order Greaton’s, Bond’s, & Porters...
2To Benjamin Franklin from James Hutchinson, [12 December? 1776] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are Just proceeding to sea with a fair Wind, which we hope may continue, and carry us safely out of the Bay of Biscay; your dispatches I received from Mr. Pennet and shall not fail to take Care of them should we arrive in Philadelphia, and on the other hand should we be so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of any of the Piratical Cruisers of Britain...
3To George Washington from New England Delegates, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We are this Moment informd by a Gentleman who is Brother of Collo. Griffen and has lately been at New York, that a Body of ten thousand of the Enemies Troops are actually arrivd at Rhode Island. As Congress is now adjournd to Baltimore in Maryland, and the President and the Board of War are not in Town, we think it our Duty to send you this Intelligence; and as there is no General Officer in...
4To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Council are Obliged to your Excellency for the intelligence ⅌ Colonel Humpton and you may be assured of our strict attention to every object which your Excellency shall think proper to recommend —The inclosed is Copy of a Letter just recieved advising of the appearance of two Vessels of War at our Capes, we though it of importance to communicate it to you & have sent off Lieutenant Butler...
5To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of Yesterday I have received —All Things in this City remain in Confusion, for Want of Men to put them into Order—The Citizens are generally with you—The Continental Recruits are cloathing & arming as fast as possible, & are employed on Guard & Fatigue Duty, for which there is scarce a Relief—A Party are now going to the Jerseys, to bring off all the Craft out of the Creeks. The...
6To George Washington from Colonel Joseph Reed, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Gentlemen of the Light Horse who went into the Jersey have returnd safe—they proceeded into the Country till they met an intelligent Person directly from Trenton who informd them that Gen. Howe was there with the main Body of his Army—that the Flying Army consisting of the light Infantry & Grenadiers under Ld Cornwallis still lay at Penny Town & there was no Appearance of a Movement—that...
7To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Intelligence which the two Granadiers [brought] is in many things Confirmed, first by the Extensive fires of their Incampment which appeared last Night to be about Penny Town, and other Intelligence from the other side, particularly by one person who has [passed] thro’ all their Incampments and Came out of Trentown about Eleven oClock Yesterday—who says that the flying Army is in and About...
8To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The president being still necessarily engaged with his family I have the honour to inform you that your letter of yesterday was recd & laid before Congress. I enclose you sundry resolutions passed this day and am Sr Your obedient humble Serv. ALS , DLC:GW . Included among the enclosed resolutions, which Thomson began writing below the ALS and continued writing on two following manuscript...
9To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Among the variety & important Objects which I have no doubt every moment press on your mind and command your attention, I beg leave to suggest to you the distress of our prisoners in Newyork, which upon every principle of humanity as well as policy, demands the most speedy method to be come into and accomplished for their relief. Major Welles of one of the Battalions of this State, among the...
10From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th Instant has come duly to hand, and am glad to hear that Greatons Bond’s and Porter’s regiments are coming forward to join me; at the same time I must acknowledge I should have been much better satisfied, if they had contained a greater number of men than what you have mentioned: your sending them on with all possible expedition, was exceedingly proper; indeed no time is...
11From George Washington to William Shippen, Jr., 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated at Bethelem the 8th Inst.—Your proposition of opening Dr Morgans stores, I entirely approve of, & which you are authorized to do immediately, as it is, in every instance my ardent wish, that the sick be provided for, in the most happy & comfortable manner, our circumstances will admit of, & I know of no good reason, why stores should be...
12Orders to Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will post your Troops at Yearleys ferry or some where near it—find out the fording place there and have a Redoubt thrown up immediatly[.] You and General Ewing must divide the Ground between Trenton falls and your post and establish the Proper Guards and Patrols to watch the Enemy motions, You will Spare no pains or Expence to Obtain inteligence—all promises made or monies Advanced shall...
13General Orders, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Army is to be arranged as follows Generals Lord Stirlings, Mercers, Stevens’s & La Roche de Fermoy’s Brigades are to take post at and below Corells and McConkeys Ferry —Lord Sterlings Brigade to Continue at and near where his Head Quarters are—General Stevens next below it General Mercers below Stevens’s[.] General de Formoy’s Brigade and General Ewings Brigade to continue at this Post and...
14Orders to Brigadier Generals Lord Stirling, Hugh Mercer, Adam Stephen, and La Rochefermoy, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The General desires that Brigadiers Lord Sterling, Mercer, Stephen & de Fermoy do, respectively, Quarter their Brigades in Houses or Hutts as compactly as possibly, that they may be soon form’d, and ready for action at the shortest notice of the approach of the Enemy. Each Brigadier is to take care of his own Front, and keep strong Guards at all the convenient passing places—the intermediate...
15From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received the favor of Mr Thompson’s Letter, inclosing the Proceedings of Congress of the 11th Instt. As the publication of their Resolve in my opinion will not lead to any good end, but on the contrary may be attended with some bad consequences, I shall take the liberty to decline inserting it in this days Orders, I am persuaded if the Subject is taken up & reconsidered, that...
16From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed Lists which I have taken the liberty of transmitting, comprehend the Officers belonging to your Army who were returned on the 4, 7 & 8th Current by Colo. Moylan in pursuance of my direction. I have affixed agt their names such belonging to us as I wish to have released, and who are of the same rank except in the instance of Colo. Allen. His exchange on account of his long...
17From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days ago favored with yours of the 30th last month, and this is the first opportunity that afforded me the pleasure of answering it. The Event has shewn, that my opinion of General Howe’s intention to make an excursion into Jersey was not ill founded. Immediately after the reduction of Fort Washington he threw a body of men consisting of about 6,000 over the North River, with an...
18Orders to Colonel John Cadwalader, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
You are to post your Brigade at and near Bristol—Col. Nixons Regiment to continue where it is at Dunkes ferry—but if you find from Reconnoitering the ground or from any movements of the Enemy that any other disposition is necessary youl make it accordingly without waiting to hear from me, but to acquaint me of the alterations and the reasons for it as soon as possible. Youl establish the...
19Orders to Brigadier General James Ewing, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Brigade is to guard the River Delaware from the Ferry opposite to Burdentown till you come within two miles or thereabouts of Yardly’s Mill, to which General Dickenson’s command will extend. About One hundred, or a hundred and fifty Men will I should think, be sufficient at the Post opposite to Burden Town—the principal part of your Force should be as convenient as possible to the ford...