1Sunday 20th of August 1780. (Adams Papers)
This morning Commodore Gillon came here at about nine o clock and We all went to a gentleman’s house who lives in the Country. We walk’d out of the City and then we found a coach with four horses waiting for us which Commodore Gillon had hired for us. At about a quarter after eleven o clock we arrived there. We went to walk with that Gentleman Whose name is Hooft and who is a Burger master of...
2To John Adams from William Lee, 20 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jenings having gone out of Town, has left in my care a packet for you that came to him last Monday by the Post; by the marks on it, I fancy it has come from Antwerp. You will please to direct, whether it shall be forwarded to you in Holland or kept here ’till your return. We have not any certain advices of Monsr. Ternay, but it appears that orders are already sent out to prosecute the War...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Clement Biddle, [20 August 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Laurence who will deliver you this, is I am informed, a character that by his attachment to the cause, his suffering, &c. has a claim to all the indulgence we can show him with consistency. All his grass is gone. He expects soon to have his hay taken away and then he says his cattle and his family in consequence must starve. If you can manage to spare him without incurring the charge of...
4George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 August 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Orangetown [ New York ] August 20, 1780 . Thanks Congress for increase in powers. Describes situation in Army. Discusses position of Great Britain both here and abroad. Reviews European situation. Argues for establishing a draft either for duration of war or for three years. Reiterates need of “ample and equal provision for the Army.” Repeats need for half-pay provision for officers. Urges...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 20 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 16. de ce mois relativement au S. Macreery Négociant Americain qui se propose d’importer d’Amerique dans les Colonies Françoises des objets de Commerce utiles à ces Dernieres, et rapporter en france les Denrées coloniales qu’il aura reçues en retour. Les ports de France et ceux des Colonies...
6General Orders, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
[Officers] For the day Tomorrow[:] Brigadier General Nixon[,] Lieutenant Colonels De Hart[,] Basset[,] Brigade Major Woodbridge For Guard[:] Major Wallbridge To lessen the duty of the Grand Parade the particular Inspection of the men’s arms by the Brigade Major of the day is dispensed with for the present; This is not meant to prevent a critical inspection on the Brigade and regimental...
7From George Washington to the Officer Commanding the Delaware Militia Regiment, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed by a Letter received just now from His Excellency, Cæsar Rodney Esq., that the Regiment of Militia raised by the Delaware State to reinforce the Army, embarked at Wilmington on the Morning of the 9th for Philadelphia, with orders to join the Army after they should be armed & accoutred at philadelphia. This I find by a Letter from the Board of War has been done, and I...
8From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellys letters of the 3d 5th & 7th instt with their Inclosures. I have a grateful sense of the confidence of which these Acts are expressive, and shall labour to improve it to the utmost extent of the means with which I am entrusted. I sincerely wish our prospects were more favourable than they are. The inclosed copy of a letter to the Honorable The...
9From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
This day Mr Joshua Anderson of Monmouth County presented a petition to me in consequence of Capt. Rudulph’s seizing a stone horse, which he urges was at any rate, unfit for present use —His petition is supported by many well effected Inhabitants of that County who place him clearly in the character of a friend to his Country—Therefore as the seizure must have been made by the Capt., in...
10From George Washington to William Livingston, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honor’d with your Excellency Letter of the 17th Inst. respecting the Troops under the command of Colo. Seely at Morris Town. It was not untill the rect of this, that I was made acquainted with the Mode in which the Militia of Your State were to be called forth. And as the time for which the first Class was detached, is so far elapsed, that there is little probability of their being...
11To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was Yesterday honored with yours, of the 16th Instant, and shall take every Measure in my Power for the immediate Return to Camp of such Officers as are now in the State: I have detained only four nor have any continued in the State by my Direction or Licence; I beleive it will not be necessary to retain more than Six or Seven within the State to receive and forward Recruits to Danbury—The...
12To George Washington from Pennsylvania Field Officers, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
When we the other Day had the Honor of a Conference with your Excellency, we were not a little mortified we so widely differed with you in Opinion with respect to the Manner in which Major Macpherson was introduced into his present Command. We have maturely and candidly considered that Article of War which treats of Brevetts, and find it (in our opinion) no ways applicable to the present...
13From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had this morning the honor of yours of the 17th from Trenton. When I ordered the Militia of Pennsylvania to assemble at their place of rendezvous, I was in hopes that our supply of provisions would have been adequate to their subsistence with the Army: But, from repeated and a lately pointed representation from the Commy General, I find myself very unfortunately disappointed. I can with...
14To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is with a great pleasure, that I inform Your Excellency, of the arrival of the Frigate The Alliance , at Boston. You will see in the Newspaper herein included, the news that she brings. they are all very good; All I fear, is Least the Departure of the 2d Division should not have taken place, until the Junction of the Spanish fleet, that was not effectuated, when the Frigate set sail. She...
15From George Washington to Colonel Silvanus Seely, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
By a letter which Genl Greene has just now rec’d from Col. Abeel at Morris Town, I find, that, for want of Drivers, a number of Waggons (which are much wanted here) lay useless at that place, I have therefore to request that you will be pleased to furnish the Col. from the Militia under your command with as many Waggoners as he may find necessary to call on you for. I am &c. Df , in Richard...
16To George Washington from Nathaniel Shaw, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The British Fleet consisting of Sixteen Sail, came to sail from Gardiners Island Yesterday & stood for Rhode Island with a fair Wind & must have got their by the next morning—at the Same time Six Ships got under way & stood up Sound, and have returned & anchored again of[f] Plumb Island. We have sent a boat over to the Island to gain Intilligenc & shall expect her return to morrow morning. I...
17To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have made several attempts to open a Communication with C—— Junr by the way of Oysterbay or Cow Neck. The Person whom I mentioned to Your Excellency as the properest Man to engage, & secure C——’s Services, was once from home at N.Y. & last monday night I sent over an Officer who formerly resided at Oysterbay, but the Person in question was then too ill to be seen. I shall still...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Stevens, 20 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
This is the first Opportunity that I have had since our unfortunate affair of the 16th Instant between Rugeleys Mill and Camdon to advise you of it. But as I am told Genl. Gates has got to Hillsborough presume he has done it before now. Our Army moved from Rugeleys on the Night of the 15th Inst. at about Ten OClock with an intention to take post on a Creek about 6 Miles from Camdon, where the...