1To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 2–3 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform Your Excellency that I went to New Ark yesterday it being the begining of their Court and I thought likely for intiligences. The first acct I had was a report that some of the Enemy had been fortyfying themselves for several days past at Hobuck or there abouts I was afterward informed by what I thought good authority that the Enemy had made a shew up the River side some days...
2George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood and the Field Officers of the Maryland Line, 2 March 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] March 2, 1779 . Encloses arrangement of rank in Maryland Line by a board of general officers. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
3From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 17. past and thank you for your kind Congratulations. It will undoubtedly be best to forward all the Prisoners as fast as they arrive, to some Port used by American Ships, and this if possible by Sea, their Land Journies to Paris and thence to Nantes being very expensive. You will settle Mr Fitzgeralds Account according to Justice and draw upon...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your other Swedish Prize is retaken and carried into England, as we hear by the English News Papers. The other which is arrived, will I suppose be tried in the Court of Admiralty of the Port at which she is arrived, unless being unable to find Proofs that the Property of the Cargo is English, you should think fit to discharge her. Mr Adams will take his Passage in...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Orders which your Excellency did me the honor to inform me (in your Letter of the 13. of January last) were sent to all the Ports, for receiving into his Majesty’s Prisons, the English Prisoners brought in by our Cruizers, have not it seems arriv’d at Brest. For I have just received a Letter from M. Schweighauser of Nantes, who has the Care of the Prisoners taken...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The enclosed from Mr Adams I suppose acquaints you with his Intention of embarking at your Port for America. I am confident you will readily afford him all the Assistance in your Power, that he may be well accommodated at Nantes and in the Ship Alliance. I have the honor to be Sir &
7From Benjamin Franklin to John Walsh et al., 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am sorry to understand by your Memorial of the 16. Past, which came to hand but Yesterday, that you are still in that uncomfortable Situation on board the Brigantine in Brest Road, having understood that Orders had been long since given for taking you on Shore. I write again this Day to the Minister of the Marine, to obtain a Renewal of those Orders; and I hope in...
8Certification of John Adams’ Shipment of Books, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania These certify, that the Box or Caise which accompanies this contains only a Quantity of Books belonging to the Honourable John Adams, one of the late Commissioners from the United States of America, and that they are intended for Nantes in their Way to America.— All concerned are requested to permit them to pass. Notation in Franklin’s hand: Certificate...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand: Memorandum, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AD : University of Pennsylvania Library Le retour á protest des traittes du Congrés sur ses Comissionaires en france, seroit un malheur plus grand sans doutte, que la perte de la Georgie si elle est vraye, parceque cette province peut etre reconquise & quil n’en est pas de meme du Credit & de la Confiance, dont La perte inevitable par la, entrainera necessairement celle de Lamerique,...
10To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Library of Congress Yours of 22d of february received. I have been as much discontented with the delay respecting the Exchange of prisoners as you can have been, and before the receipt of yours, I had made an heavy complaint and remonstrance upon the Subject. I have now the Satisfaction to tell you, that the first Cartel ship has actually left...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Stephen Hills et al., 2 [March] 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library Such is our unlimited confidence in your candour and generosity that we again presume to trouble you with a few lines respecting our present situation, and the manner in which things have been conducted, Vizt, In America we were called upon by the Gentlemen who have the honour to compose the Navy-Board (Eastern Department) to exert ourselves with all...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bennett Lloyd, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclosed copy is from a letter which Mr. Hartley has received from the Office for sick & wounded seamen— I would have sent you it by the last Mail but was prevented by a violent cold and inflammation in my eyes— I make no doubt if these people have been in earnest, but that you have heard from them before this time—. Mr. Hartley received me with much...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library Capt Collas is now ready to sail in a little Brig which Mr Johnson has given him & in which I have a small Share.— At His request I gave him the Privateer Commission which was made out for his intended Cruize last Spring in the Mediterranean, and in order to put the matter on a regular Footing I inclose you a new Bond in...
14General Orders, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date includes the following general order: “1 C[aptain] 3 S[ubalterns], 3 S[ergeants] 3 C[orporals] 2 D[rums] & f[ifes]& 60 privates for Fatigue—to parade at 9 oClock Tomorrow morning—from the first Maryland Brigade.” (orderly book, 22 Dec. 1778–26 June 1779, DNA : RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 28).
15From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
The forgoing list being submitted to me by you, for consideration, I shall observe that if the articles therein contained, are intended as an extra provision for the ensuing campaign and wholly designed for such troops as may proceed by the way of Wyoming, I think the quantity too great, and that the following deduction may be made; as an expedition of this kind, should be as little encumbered...
16To George Washington from John Jay, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
accept my thanks for your obliging Favor of the 23 Ult. and be pleased to add to the obligation by a Repitition of them. The arrival of a Reinforcement from Rhode Island at New York seems to indicate, either another Embarkation to the Southward, or offensive operations in your Quarter. but of military Matters I have too little Knowledge to hazard Conjectures, especially to Persons familiar...
17To George Washington from John Jay, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letters of the 24th & 26th Ulto with their several Inclosures have been received and communicated to Congress. A Copy of an Act of Congress of the 27th Feby is herewith enclosed, by which your Excellency will perceive that the Letter of Coll Wigglesworth is referred to the Delegates of Massachusetts Bay, & that General Glover is to be indulged with a furlough for such time as...
18To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
At my return to Philadelphia from Middle Brook I found on my Table Your Excellency’s favor of the 17th February—were I to indulge a pen, always prompt to express the feelings of my heart, truths might drop, which ‘though truths, had better be understood than displayed, therefore I shall say only in one word, I count it one of the highest honors of my Life to have been for some Weeks an Inmate...
19To George Washington from Fielding Lewis, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have An Act of this state for speedily recruiting the Virginia Regements on the Continental establishment by which it is enacted that the Governour do request the commander in chief of the american army to order into this state One General or field Officer to give such orders as he may see cause for collecting the Men as they are raised and marching them to the grand Army, as no...
20From George Washington to William Patterson, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I transmit you your instructions —and letters for the officers commanding at the posts of Wyoming, Sunbury, and Fort Willis. Should any money be wanted preparatory to this business—you will apply to me for it. I am sir Yours &c. Df , in John Laurens’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . William Patterson (1735 or 1737–1782) was born in Donegal, Lancaster County, Pa., and...
21From George Washington to Major Albert Pawling, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
In your letter of the 25 Ulto you seem to have misconceived the intention of Congress, upon which is founded your application for leave to resign. It is not their purpose to reduce Col. Malcom’s Regiment. This will be incorporated with Col. Spencer’s, and as you are the only Major in the two Regiments of cou[r]se you will be continued. After considering the just claims which the country have...
22From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr without date containing your Ideas of the kind of War necessary to be carried on against the Savages for the more effectual security of our Frontier; with your opinion of the most practicable Route of penetrating the Indian Country. Your Ideas correspond in a good measure with my own and should the situation of Affairs on the Coast admit, I have t⟨ur⟩ned my thoughts and...
23To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d with your Excellencys Commands of the 10th & 14th Ulto. I have long since directed Lt Col. Gray to procure all the papers relative to Scudders Affair & forward them to me, that they might be transmitted to you—These I have been waiting for this some time, which prevented my Answering your Letters before—but as he cannot obtain them imediately I shall defer that till another...
24From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood and the Field Officers of the Maryland Line, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have the settlement of rank in the Maryland line by a board of General-Officers, after a full representation and investigation of the different claims. You have also an explanation of the former powers of the State of Maryland to the Commander in Chief, respecting the disputes existing in your line. You will be pleased to compare the abovementioned settlement with the resolve of...
25From George Washington to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I find that there will be occasion for larger Magazines of Provisions on the Susquehanna than were directed in my order of the 14th Ulto. You will therefore extend your views to the Supply of three thousand Men for at least three Months. As far as it is practicable, procure the provisions on the West side the River, and deposit it thereon (to be Water borne) from middle Town up to Sunbury; and...
26From John Jay to George Washington, 2 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your obliging Favor of the 23 Ult. and be pleased to add to the obligation by a Repetition of them. The arrival of a Reinforcement from Rhode Island at New York seems to indicate, either another Embarkation to the Southward, or offensive Operations in your Quarter, but of military Matters I have too little Knowledge to hazard Conjectures, especially to Persons familiar...