AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies and one transcript: National Archives <Passy, July 20, 1778: The Spy brought us the ratified treaties with France. On the 17th we exchanged ratifications with the count de Vergennes; copies are enclosed. War is not yet declared but hostilities have already commenced, the British and French fleets are at sea, and we hourly expect news...
2General Orders, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Right and Left Wings are to remain on their present ground ’till further orders—The Officers will see that their men wash their Cloathes, cleanse and put their Arms in good Order as soon as possible and carefully examine their Ammunition. The Commander in Chief directs that no drums beat after-Retreat-beating ’till Reveillee unless by a general Order—Commanding Officers of Regiments &...
3To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, 20 July 1778. On 20 July, GW wrote Gates : “I have been favoured with your two Letters of to day, (one inclosing a return) for which I thank you.” Only one letter of 20 July from Gates has been found.
4To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I transmit your Excellency a letter from the Count Destain. He has had the River sounded and finds he cannot enter. He will sail for Rhode Island tomorrow evening; in the mean time he is making demonstrations to deceive the enemy and beget an opinion, that he intends to operate in this quarter. He would sail immediately but he waits the arrival, or to hear, of a frigate which carried...
5From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [20 July 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed I transmit your Excellency a letter from the Count Destain. He has had the River sounded and finds he cannot enter. He will sail for Rhode Island tomorrow evening; in the mean time he is making demonstrations to deceive the enemy and beget an opinion that he intends to operate in this quarter. He would sail immediately but he waits the arrival, or to hear, of a frigate which carried...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 20 July 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
The condition of our affairs is much changed since last I had the pleasure of writing to you, as by the favor of his Most Christian Majesty we now are become Masters of the Sea, on our own Coast at least. Ten days ago arrived in the Delaware a french Squadron commanded by Count D’Esteing consisting of 12 sail of the Line and 4 frigates, having of Seamen and land Troops 11,000 Men on board....
7From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 20 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Abstract: Parke-Bernet catalogue (1963) <Passy, July 20, 1778: Franklin notifies Dumas of the ratification at Versailles of the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and authorizes him to “communicate the Treaty of Commerce to M. le Grand Pensionnaire.” > Session of December 3: p. 19 of catalogue 2235. See the preceding document. Three weeks earlier Dumas had shown the Grand...
8To George Washington from George Clinton, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed Copy of a Petition & Letter which I received on my arrival here; Your Excellency will observe that the usurped Government of Vermont have sentenced sundry of the Inhabitants of this State to Banishment; which Sentence General Starke has contrary to his Duty undertaken to carry into execution, by forwarding the Petitioners down the River to Genl Gates to be sent to the Enemy....
9From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 20 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your two Letters of to day, (one inclosing a return) for which I thank you. I am now about Six miles from where the Court House at the plains was, & shall set out immediately for Reuben Rights, which will be my Quarters for the present. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt servt LS , in the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison, NHi : Gates Papers. The letter enclosing a return has not...
10The Commissioners to the President of the Congress, 20 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 20 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:168–170 ; also, with “The Function of Consuls” enclosed, in Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 2:650–653. The...