11To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
A few Minutes ago my Friend Mr J. F. returned from the City, in which, he says there are a great many Troops Billeted, the Streets remain without any Cannon in them six or seven Frigates have got up, none ly above Mark⟨et⟩ Street Wharf, neither do they carry above twenty Guns each, the Transports have not as yet unloaded but a little Suga⟨r⟩ and a few pieces of Linnen—Lord Cornwallis has at...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
By taking Winter Quarters from Lancaster to Reading, we abandon to the Enemy Jersey, and all the Country adjacent to Derby, Chester and Wilmington, one of the richest Tracts in this part of the Continent—By establishing them at Wilmington we cover the Country, and do not so completely abandon that part of it which is before Philadelphia, nor even Jersey, because our proximity to the Enemy and...
13To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s command I shall in a few words give my Sentiments with respect to the necessity of puting the troops into Winter quarters and the properest place to canton them in. Every one that views the Condition of the army and is acquainted with the severe duty they have gone through will readily agree that good warm comfortable quarters are necessary to supply the defect...
14To George Washington from Brigadier General James Irvine, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Whether the army should retire into winter quarters in the interior part of this state, or to wilmington and its invirons, or whether it ought not to take post nigher to the enemy and remain in huts during the winter, are questions of such importance and the arguments for and against each of those measures so many and cogent that I confess myself at a loss how to decide upon them. To leave so...
15To George Washington from Major General Johann Kalb, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Rest, Recruiting & Cloathing being most necessary for the army I am of opinion that taking Winter quarters at Wilmington almost behind the Ennemy, will not answer the purpose, because every movements the Ennemies will make Up Schuylkill river we must follow their motions or be cut off from our Stores, or forced to fight whether it will Suit us or not, I am apprehensive this position will of...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency last evening referr’d to your General Officers the consideration of the position proper for Winter Quarters, and order’d us to give our opinions respectively on that subject. I shall be concise in my opinion, establishing the proposition that Winter Quarters are indispensably necessary for the army in order to give it that rest and refreshment of which it stands much in need;...
17To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your excellency ordered me to give my opinion about these three places for winter quarters 1º the chain from about the Sculchill till betheleem—2º this from reading to lancaster—3º building hutts about and quartering in willmington. I must Confess My being prevented of fixing my Sentiments in a decicise manner by my want of knowledge about very interesting points amongs them as 1º how far we...
18From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday I had the Honor to receive your Favor of the 26th Ulto with it’s Inclosures. The Resolve of the 25th, I have published in Orders agreable to direction, and shall be happy if Congress can fall upon measures to render the situation of the Officers & Soldiery more eligible than what it now is. At present it is truly distressing, and unless some means can be divised to support them...
19To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of writing to your Excellency Yesterday by Thos Seale —this Morning I reported to Congress your Excellency’s Letter of the 26th 27th November together with the Copy of General Sr William Howe’s, which came inclosed in it. I am now charged to inform Genl Gates, the Council of Massachusetts Bay & Genl Heath, that it is the Resolution of Congress, the Troops of Lt Genl Burgoyne...
20To George Washington from William Livingston, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great Concern that our recruiting upon your Plan is not yet begun in this State, for want of my being able to give the proper Instructions to the persons appointed respecting the Security to be given & the Manner in which they are to draw for the Money—To obtain proper Directions on these Subjects I wrote to Congress on the 11th of last Month, but have received no Answer, I now...