1To George Washington from Captain Epaphras Bull, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to Inform your Excellency that at Sunset this Evening, came from the Wtward one 20 gun Ship one Brig & 2 Schooners, the Latter being so far in the Rear of the Ship ’twas dark before they came up, therefore cou’d not ’tell whether they were armed or not Can send your Excellency a Mess of Black fish whenever ’tis agreable they are now in Cur. I have the Honor to be your Excellencys Mot...
2To George Washington from Major Alexander Clough, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am inform’d by a person from New York, that the 27th Regt have sent thayr Baggage on board the Britania transport, three companys of Artillery are orderd on board the Howe, the Officers Baggage is sent on board—Another informs me thayr waggons are repair’d, and the horses are shoeing in every part of the town—Major tenpeny is order’d to raise a Corps of horse. I am Your Excellency[s] Most...
3To George Washington from Major General Jabez Huntington, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday 2 O’Clock P.M. this Quarter was Alarmed by the Appearence of a British Fleet from the Eastward which Appeared to be making an Attempt to Gaine this Harbour. the Wind then at North. at 6 O’Clock the whole Fleet Came to Anchor, About a Mild from the Enterence of the Harbour. I Arived here Early this Morning & have Reconoiter’d them as near as possible find they Consist of About Fifty...
4To George Washington from Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest surprize that I have read in the New York papers, the pretended Translation of a Letter I had written to a Friend of mine in Europe. Of all the little, mean Tricks the English makes use of to sow dissentions among their Adversaries, This is indeed the most odious and abominable. They have most Villainously abused of the Liberty of a Translator, and have artfully altered...
5To George Washington from Cornet James Paton, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform your Excellency, that this forenoon, I Observed three Sloops & 2 Schooners from Cow Bay the Schooners and Sloop Appeared to be Armed, Came to off City Island in Company with Several Vessels on that Station before the Other Sloops Stood for N. York, About the middle of the Afternoon Came one Brigg from the West, and Came too off City Island, About Sun ⟨Or⟩ Half an Hour high...
6To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform your Excellency of a Disscontent which at present prevails among the Officers of Webbs and Sherburnes Regiments—They have lately been so clamorous as to verge towards quitting the Service, & I am really apprehensive, that we shall lose many valuable Officers by Resignations if a speedy Redress is not had for their Grievances. Their uneassiness seems to have arisen from...
7To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Ternant, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s kind answer was handed to me yesterday evening —from the Idea I entertain of a good military constitution, I am, & have always been sensible of the necessity of limiting rank to the line of an army, & of the dangerous impropriety of lavishing it to men mercantilely or otherwise civily employed in the Staff departments; nor did I ever think of proposing any direct or indirect...