1From George Washington to John Mathews, 14-19 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th Ulto being delayed on the road, did not come to my hands till now, when I am on the eve of a journey to Rhode Island. The information given in it is important, It affords me infinite satisfaction; & I have to thank you for your goodness in giving it to me so early. The confederation being now closed, will, I trust, enable Congress to speak decisively in their...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Major Sebastian Bauman, [14 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Garanger has received a second order from the General to make the experiments which were before prescribed him. General Knox he tells me has given him a letter to you to furnish him with the materials and afford him the assistance of which he may stand in need. You will oblige me by facilitating his operations as much as you can; You may depend he will not be introduced into the corps of...
3George Washington to Colonel Ephraim Blaine, 14 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 14, 1781 . Informs Blaine that Washington is leaving for Rhode Island. Orders Blaine to send provisions to West Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
4George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 14, 1781 . Is going to Rhode Island. States that command of the Army will devolve on Major General William Heath. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
5George Washington to Comte de Rochambeau, 14 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York ] February 14, 1781 . Informs Rochambeau that Lieutenant Colonels Jean-Baptiste Gouvion and Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat have permission to go to Rhode Island to “pay their respects to your Excellency.” Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
6From Benjamin Franklin to Gourlade & Moylan, 14 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you honoured me with of the Instant, relating to the Arms left by Capt. Jones. They are to be shipt on board the Marquis de la Fayette; and it may be done as soon as she arrives, if Mr. Williams who has the Care of loading her, has not other Goods that he chuses should be placed lowest. I have the honour to be, with much Esteem, Gentlemen,...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Howard, 14 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take this opportunity to aguaint you that there is Six american prisoners on Bord of this Ship that was taken in august last in a bad Condition and now are in a very misorable manner not fit for no Cristean to See us we are not allowed any Cloths nor money allowed us at all Sir/ I hope it is in your power to assist us in a few Cloths I never new Before...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 14 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library The Marquis de la Fayette is at length arrived at L’Orient & as soon as the Freight she brought round from Bordeaux is delivered she will begin to take in: All that depends on me is ready, & you may depend there will not be a moments Delay that I can prevent.— I have written a Letter to the Minister which I inclose for...
9General Orders, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General with great satisfaction communicates to the Army the following Intelligence just received of important and brilliant successes lately obtained over the Enemy in South Carolina. Brigadier General Morgan who commands the light troops of General Greene’s army having taken post at the Cowpens near Cherakee ford on broad river with about eight hundred men regulars and militia including...
10From George Washington to Ephraim Blaine, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I shall set out in a day or two for Rhode Island. The command in my absence will devolve upon Major General Heath—I am to desire you will do every thing in your power without delay to throw into the garrison of West Point a supply of provisions for several weeks that it may be subject to no accident from a sudden investiture—This I regard as of so much importance, that I hope you will omit...
11To George Washington from Captain Lieutenant Caleb Brewster, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
My appointment on the 6th Inst. was frustrated untill the 9th (by bad weather) when I cros’d, & from informatio⟨n⟩ found I could not accomplish my buisines⟨s⟩ without endangering particular persons, as there were several crews of Reffugees scatter’d in the town, which made it impossible for me to see the persons I wish’d. I thought it most prudent to return immediately, and take with me an...
12To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
By Letters just come to hand from Mr Carmichael at Madrid, I am informed that the Son of Count de rochambeau is safe arrived in France. Our last reports from Virginia say that the British were fortifying at Portsmouth, that their Operations indicated a Design to take Post there. How far Credit ought to be given to the Account contained in the Paper enclosed, that all the Shiping & Troops in...
13To George Washington from the New York Legislature, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Reflecting with a most sincere satisfaction on the marks of confidence which you have so repeatedly bestowed upon the Government of this State, we esteem it incumbent on us to afford your Excellency the perusal of a Letter which we have addressed Congress; Copy whereof we have the Honor to inclose. Minute as we have been in a detail of our distresses, they fall far short of those we at this...
14From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I shall set out in a day or two for Rhode Island. The command in my absence will devolve upon Major General Heath. I must request you will make every effort to enable the Commissary to throw as ample a supply of provisions as he can into the Garrison of West point, that it may not be exposed to any accident from a sudden investiture —and will do every thing else, that depends on you, to...
15From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 2d, and am much obliged by the confidential communication of your dispatches from St Domingo. It is with pleasure I transmit your Excellency the Copy of a letter from Brigadier General Morgan to Major Genl Greene, giving an account of a decisive Victory gained by him over Lt Colo. Tarleton on the 17th of January. I am in hopes that this...
16From Thomas Jefferson to James Henry, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Gallies of which you are so kind as to give me information have been the subject of great misconduct in the Officers. They were first abandoned by Officers and men, and all their Apparel and furniture left with themselves exposed to depredation. On information of this last summer, we ordered Commodore Baron to bring one of them over to the Western shore, to bring the other to the Bay side...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Massingbird Hyrne, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New London, Va., 14 Feb. 1781. On departing from Greene’s headquarters, Hyrne was instructed to march the prisoners now under his command “into such part of Virginia as your Excellency should direct for their residence; but the alarming accounts of the Enemy’s approach induc’d me to push them on towards Stanton without halting, as I at first intended, for your instructions.” Is to march from...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Beesly Edgar Joel, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry that any circumstances have arisen to occasion the laying aside the enterprise which you had undertaken, bold in itself and, if succesful, advantageous. As it was however, pretty certain that the enemy had received notice of it, there seemed little hope of it’s success for the present with however bold a hand it might have been conducted. Attempts of this kind have been generally...
19From Thomas Jefferson to George Muter, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I must beg the favor of you to have immediate measures taken for the following purposes. To send some of the worst Arms to Fredericksburg to be repaired at the Factory and by Mr. Hunter and to bring all the Camp kettles in readiness. To have five ton of powder brought from Baltimore at Continental expence to replace what we have lent them and to bring our Cartouch boxes. To have all the lead...
20[To Thomas Jefferson from George Muter, 14 February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 14 Feb. 1781. War Office Journal (Vi) contains the following entry under this date: “Letter to the Governor, in consequence of an application made to me from Major Magill, respecting the Soldiers of the State Garrison Regiment that served in the Southern Army, informing him they have received no pay for the time they served there, and petition his Excellency to advance pay for them...
21To Thomas Jefferson from the General Assembly of North Carolina, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The General Assembly of North Carolina by joint Resolve of both Houses, have directed us to lay before your Excellency the Situation of the Affairs of this State, which since the Commencement of the War with Britain have not been at a more critical Period. Lord Cornwallis irritated with the Blow struck at one of his principal Partizans by General Morgan hath penetrated into the Heart of the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from George Elliott, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Petersburg, 14 Feb. 1781. By a letter from TJ of 6 Dec. 1780, Elliott was directed to furnish wagons for the purpose of moving Col. [John] Green’s troops to the south; he received from Capt. Thomas Claiborne a wagon and three horses valued at £12,350 Virginia currency, and gave Claiborne a certificate therefor. RC ( Vi ); 2 p.; addressed; endorsed (in part): “charged 15th. feby 81.” TJ’s...
23To Thomas Jefferson from George Rice, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 14 Feb. 1781. The distress of the quartermaster’s department at Albemarle Barracks, where Rice has acted as assistant since its establishment, has become so great for want of money “that I think it my duty as a publick officer to lay a plain and full state of the matter before your Excellency.” The lack of money has involved Rice in a load of debts that he has been unable to pay, and...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favoured with your’s of the 10th. Inst. by Mr. Prentis. I have never been informed that any Horses were left by the Enemy, except those at Westover, which were taken by Captain Selden’s and Captain Hockaday’s Men. Those in the Possession of Captain Hockaday’s Men I ordered to be carried to Richmond for the Proprietors to claim. Farther Enquiry shall be made, and if there be any such as...