1To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, 16-c.20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at this place five days ago, sent by our Assembly to make application to congress for immediate assistance in men, arms, ammunition cloathing, and was also directed to wait on You on the same subjects; on Wednesday last I laid before a Committee of that body the business I had in charge as fully as it was in my power to do without answers to letters I had written to the Governor of...
2To John Adams from John Thaxter, 16 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of yesterday was recieved this morning. I am never more happy than in hearing, that things are in a good State in our Country, and that the People are in good Spirits, and bent on War. Those “Pauses and Stops” mentioned in yours of the 12th. would be very injurious to Us, and that Species of “Circumspection,” our Destruction. Every body here talks of Peace—it is not the Doctrine of...
3From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [16 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
The General requests to see you at Head Quarters today, as he wishes to give you some directions previous to your setting out for Albany. Yr Most Obed Serv Will you be here to dinner? ALS , Northwestern University.
4George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 16 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 16, 1781 . Orders Clinton to march six companies of Colonel Goose Van Schaick’s regiment to West Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; LS , in the handwriting of H, The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.
5To Alexander Hamilton from Colonel Hugh Hughes, 16 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Fishkill [ New York ] February 16, 1781 . Has obtained horses requested by Hamilton for the journey to Rhode Island. Asks whether they should be delivered to the west bank of the Hudson River or kept at Fishkill. LC , New-York Historical Society, New York City. See H to Timothy Pickering, February 9, 1781 (printed in this volume).
6From Benjamin Franklin to [Madame Brillon], 16 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Je n’avoit pas, le Bonheur, ma chere Amie, de vous voir Mercredi au soir, parceque mes chevaux etoient à Paris, avec le jeune homme, & je n’ai actuellement ni Pieds ni Ailes. Si j’avois des Ailes, j’aurois volé a vous; & il me semble que je gratterai quelquefois à la Fenêtre de votre Chambre à coucher. C’est très malfait de la Nature de nous nier un Avantage...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Castries, 16 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Mr. De Sartine, Monsieur, par sa dépêche du 14 octobre 1779 à eu l’honneur de vous faire part de la reclamation de plusieurs marins qui n’ont point êté payés de leurs gages, et des parts qui leur reviennent dans les prises faites par le Corsaire le Revange sorti de Dunkerque sous le Commandement du Capitaine Cuningham. Vous avez pensé qu’on ne pouvoit...
8General Orders, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Light companies are immediately to be augmented to fifty rank and file each with an additional serjeant and are to rendezvous the 19th at Peekskill prepared for a march—They are to be completed in shoes—The former directions concerning the greatest care in the choice of the men are repeated —the Adjutant General will inspect the companies when formed and exchange all the men who have been...
9From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
As we are making a detachment from this army, it is become expedient to withdraw a part of your brigade towards replacing it. You will therefore march to West Point, as speedily as possible, six companies of Col. Van Schaicks regiment, of which the light company to be one. You will make such a disposition with the rest of your brigade as you judge best calculated for the security of the...
10To George Washington from John Collins, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest reluctance I trouble Your Excelly With repetitions, but my distress’d condition compells me to it. being destitute of A Relation in this Country to espouse my cause, nor Support Sufficient for an Existance, but lodged in A cold Goal, not possess’d of a Blanket, to cover me with & not a farthing to purchase one. When I wrote to Your Excellency the 24th of January last,...
11From George Washington to Colonel Elias Dayton or the Officer Commanding the New Jersey Brigade, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will immediately, agreeable to the General Order of this day, augment the two light Infantry Companies to the number directed, and you will also be pleased to order three other Companies of equal numbers to be formed by detachment from the Brigade, taking the same care in the choice of Officers and Men as for the light Companies. To enable you to do this more effectually, you may, if you...
12From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I return you the proceedings of the Division Court Martial held by order of Majr Genl Parsons. I have confirmed the sentence of Taylor and ordered it to be carried into execution, at such time and place as you shall direct —The punishment ordered to be inflicted upon Cahos is not authorised by the Articles of War, but as it may be sometimes necessary to depart somewhat from the line laid down,...
13To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honor’d with yours of the 15. have ordered all the light companies to be immediately augmented to fifty rank & file with the addition of one serjeant to each company and the companies to be fully officered, to march to Peeks-kill the morning after to morrow (viz. the 18.) with three days provision, and in other respects conformable to your directions; but I have given no orders for...
14To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s favour of the 15th about half hour Since. My earnest wish was, and is, to have the honour of attending you to Newport. the uncertainty of the time of your departure alone would induce me to Set out before you, but as this is not possible to be ascertained I would proceed with your leave to Hartford, where a visi[t] to Mr Web’s family long Since due might...
15From George Washington to Jabez Huntington, 16 February 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Jabez Huntington, 16 Feb. 1781. A description of this letter, purported to be an ALS , in Sotheby’s catalog no. 6339, item no. 274, reads in part: “New Windsor, 16 February 1781, to Jabez Huntington, Sheriff of the County of Windham, Connecticut, authorizing him to discharge Andrew Sutton, a prisoner in the Hartford County jail.”
16To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I beg Pardon for having so long delayed to pay you my Annual Acknowledgment of regard & Esteem, as well as that for your very obliging favour of October 22d by General Green, who passed wth such rapidity to the Scene of his Command, as to Miss me, otherwise I should have been happy in shewing him every mark of respect due to his Merit and yr recommendation, as well as in the pleasure of his...
17From Thomas Jefferson to John Allen, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It having been concluded to build a defensive work at Hoods under the direction of Colo. Senf, I am to desire the favor of you to see to the execution of it according to his instructions. Thirteen Labourers will be with you on Monday next. Besides these I have written to Colo. Southall of this County, Colo. Banister of Dinwiddie, Colo. Call of Prince George and Colo. Munford of Charls. City to...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Steuben being very desirous to have as large [a] collection of Boats made as possible and joined to those he now has at Sandy Point, You are hereby authorized to impress all boats proper for the transportation of troops in James or Appamattox rivers (excepting only one horse Boat at every ferry, and such cases of extreme hardship as in your discretion you shall think should exempt the...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Some of the assistant Deputy Quarter Master’s have made application to me to know whether they and the persons employed under them, are subject to the insuing draft of this State. I am likewise informed that my Name, with some of my Officers are inroled, and that it is the intention of the Court to comprehend us in the Draft. This is a step which I cannot think justifiable, as it should have...
20From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Berkeley and Frederick, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have with exceeding distress of mind received information that the service to which the Militia of the Counties of Frederick and Berkely have been called Westwardly is so disagreeable as to render it probable that that call will be very imperfectly obeyed. A knowledge that an extensive combination of Indians had been formed to come on our frontier early in the spring induced us to prevent...
21From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenant of Hampshire, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter is founded on representations received from the Counties of Frederic and Berkely. I have not heard that the same aversion to the service has arisen in your county, and I am led to hope it has not from many considerations: Lest it should however, and you should be delayed by sending here, I inclose you a copy of my letter to the County Lieutenants of the other Counties and...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I yesterday was inform’d on my way home, that General Green had retreated to Dan River, being inferior to Cornwallis in his number of Men, who was pushing after him with great avidity, and that Gl. Green had call’d upon the most convenient Counties to turn out the Militia to his Aid. Among one of the Counties that are call’d upon is this. The Militia have met to day at the Court House (where I...
23From Thomas Jefferson to James Maxwell, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The arrival of a French naval force will render it necessary for us to put into immediate order for service and to man every Vessel we have capable of rendering any service. You will therefore be pleased to have this done, and to have the Vessels kept in readiness to move at a moment’s warning. You are also desired, having left this matter in a proper train, to proceed yourself and examine the...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very anxious to prepare for cooperating with our Allies, and for providing for their support. For the former purpose measures are taking as agreed on this moment in a conference with Baron Steuben. For the latter we suppose York town the most effectual to prepare as an Assylum for their Vessels. Colo. Senf comes down with instructions to point out what may be done there in a short time;...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Stephen Southall, enclosing Order, [16? February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
Without place or date [ 16? Feb. 1781 ]. Has settled with several persons whose wagons were employed in Continental service “at the Price then allowed by the Continent which did not exceed twenty pounds, and on the Presumption of the Enclosed Order from you I did in some measure promise them the same pay as was allowed by this state.” Having given certificates to these people for the...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Turner Southall, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 16 Feb. 1781. Part of the militia of this county being called on to march, the case of Thomas Smith came before the courtmartial, which determined that it did not have a power, consistent with the law, “to Exempt him from his Tour.” Smith was advised, however, to apply to TJ, since both he and his clerk are “employed in the Settlement of the Public Accounts,” and it appears that his...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the inclosed letter last night and took the liberty of informing Colo. Loyauté that I would let you know of the offer of his services and that he is here, as you could best judge in what line they might be useful. I have the honour to be with much respect Sir your most obedt. sert., RC ( NHi ); endorsed. Enclosure not found. On Loyaute (variously spelled), see R. H. Lee to TJ, 11...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I think from every enquiry we shall find it impossible to get hats for the men at Chesterfeild. Could not a cap of cloth be made to answer? The grenadiers I beleive wear such. If you think it would do, could you help us to a model? I am with much respect Sir your most obedt. sert., RC ( NHi ); addressed by TJ, but without place; endorsed.
29From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I make no doubt from what passed in council in your presence you were led to beleive as I was that I should be advised to impress immediately all armed vessels in James river to cooperate with the French force. The board however decide against an impress, so that I am only to endeavor to engage the willing. I mention this to you that nothing more may be expected than is likely to be obtained...