1John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
By an express last night from Cape May, We learn that the Fleet went out of the Bay, the Morning before, i.e. on Thursday Morning and put to Sea, and went out of Sight. What this Man is after, no Wisdom can discover. Last night another Express says the Fleet appeared off the Capes again, i.e. part of it, upwards of one hundred Sail. After all these Feints and Maneuvres, it is most likely he...
2Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 2 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library; letterbook copy: Yale University Library I have just received your favour of the 28th Ultimo and shall take care to observe all your Directions with the greatest Exactness, but I must first inform you of a most vexatious turn our Affairs relative to the Duc de Chartres are about to take unless we can sufficiently oppose the Design. When I bought this Ship...
3From George Washington to the Commanding Officer on March to Peekskill, N.Y., 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Express last Night, I inform’d you of my having rec’d intelligence, that the Enemy’s Fleet had left the Capes, & sailed towards the Eastward; and in consequence thereof directed you, without losing a moment to return with the two Brigades under your Command, and rejoin Genl Putnam. The utmost dispatch is absolutely necessary; for there is every reason to suppose the Enemy’s movements will...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Seth Paddack, 2 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You must have Heard of My Arival last December in a Paltry Brig Belonging to Mease & Caldwell of Philadelphia. I Came in that Vessel With a Promise of having a Good Ship filled from Nantes in a warlike manner to Go Back. At My Arival I found it all a farce. I Quited the Vessel and Enterd. with Capt: Bell one of his first officers in a Private Ship of war...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [2 August 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lee presents his Compliments to Doctor Franklin and informs him that he shall set off for Nantes tomorrow forenoon and will with pleasure take care of any thing he has to send there. Addressed: Honble. Benjamin Franklin / Esqr. Passi Notation: W Lee. to BF. no date. He must have changed his mind and taken off soon after writing this note. He left on the...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish I Could beleive as You do with respect to the Enemies Strenght, but in order to do this I must prefer loose Conjectures to the Greatest Variety of Concurring testimoneys—That prisoners may Endeavour to Deceive I think probable, but that a number of Men should agree to tell a Similar tale, & give like Answers to questions without knowing what those questions will be, I Cannot beleive,...
7From George Washington to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 2 August 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 2 Aug. 1777. On 4 Aug. Putnam wrote GW that “I Recd yours of the 1st Inst. last evening & your favour of the 2nd this moment.”
8To George Washington from George Walton, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Despairing of an opportunity of personally communicating a peice of business, in your present perplexing situation, I beg leave to take this method of doing it. The exposed state of Georgia calls aloud for a pretty formidable force to defend it; for this reason congress have not forbid Col. White recruiting deserters from the british Army. I have been informed that there are a considerable...
9To George Washington from Brigadier General David Forman, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honr of Transmiting your Excely An Acct of the Enemies Fleet’s sailing, Nothing of Importance has Come to my Knowledge—The Cork Fleet Consisting of 34 Sail Left Sandy hook on Tuesday Morning Last. The Accts respecting the Situation of our Northern Army as handed to us at this place is so Various as to Induce me to beg the favr to have the Accts from Some one of your Excelys...
10New England Delegates to George Washington, 2 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
As Congress have authorized your Excellency to send a proper Officer to take the Command in the northern Department; We take the Liberty to signifie to your Excellency that in our Opinion, no Man will be more likely; to restore, Harmony, Order and Discipline, and retrieve our Affairs in that Quarter, than Majr. Genll. Gates. He has on Experience acquired the Confidence, and stands high in the...
11To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have had no certain intelligence of the Fleet since I wrote your Excellency on Yesterday Many doubt whether any considerable number of large Ships were seen at all, and suppose it was only a number of Cruizers with their prizes. We have a number of Boats in the Bay, and persons by Land, upon the whole I beleive the Report has but little foundation, and was chiefly Imaginary, I thought it my...
12From the New England Delegates to the Continental Congress, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
as Congress have authorized your Excellency to send a proper Officer to take the Command in the northern Department, We take the Liberty to signifie to your Excellency that in our Opinion, no Man will be more likely to restore Harmony, Order & Discipline, & retrieve our Affairs in that Quarter, than Majr Genll Gates, He has on Experience acquired the Confidence, & stands high in the Esteem of...
13To George Washington from John Hancock, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to Inclose you sundry Resolutions of Congress, to which beg leave to Refer you. I have the honour to be Sir Your very hum. Servt ALS , DLC:GW . The enclosed resolutions, passed between 29 July and 1 Aug. 1777, concern a variety of matters related to the military and to the defense of Philadelphia. Resolutions of 29 and 30 July, and 1 Aug., order an inquiry into the...
14To George Washington from the Massachusetts Council, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed are Copies of two Letters one from Salem & the other from Glocester from which it appears that the Information respecting the British Fleet being off Cape Ann is not to be relyed on. Should we gain any certain Intelligence respecting them Your Excellency may Depend on being regularly informed thereof. Any Information from You advising the Situation of the Army under Your Command...
15To George Washington from Preudhomme de Borre, 2 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received Several Letters from your Excellency in my road & I executed his orders exactly, the Last ordered me to go to philadelphia With the Division I move on to morrow morning from bound brook & I hope to cross the Delaware river after to morrow, I march Since Eight Days Without rest. The 31 July the Court martial hath condemned a guilty tory to be hanged I confirmed this Sentence to be...