1To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 21 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Agreable to my Faith I have obtain’d a Promise of Money sufficient to pay the Bills you have accepted, and shall accordingly accept those you draw on me for that purpose. I request only that you would send me immediately a List of the Bills, and of the Times of their becoming due, that I may be always provided, and that as the Money will come gradually into my hands, you would not draw upon me...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Abraham Skinner, 21 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Near Elizabethtown [ New Jersey ] April 21, 1781 . Has received Washington’s letter transmitting new orders for exchange of prisoners. ALS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Washington to Abraham Skinner, April 16, 1781 .
3George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 21 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] April 21, 1781 . Asks Congress to authorize the quarter-master general to appoint Colonel Jabez Champlin a barrack master to be attached to the French army. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
4George Washington to Marquis de Lafayette, 21 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Windsor, New York ] April 21, 1781 . Wishes Lafayette to return to the main Army. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 21 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Agreable to my Faith I have obtain’d a Promise of Money sufficient to pay the Bills you have accepted and shall accordingly accept those you draw on me for that purpose. I request only that you would send me immediately a List of the Bills, and of the Times of their becoming due, that I may be always provided, and that as the...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Huquier, 21 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, Monsieur, les deux Lettres que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire. J’aurois repondu immediatement à la premiere si je n’avois pas cru que la seule Demande de M. Williams suffiroit pour rétirer de chèz vous les Objets que j’y avois adressés pour lui suivant ses Ordres mais comme cela ne vous paroit pas ainsi, Je vous prie par la presente de vouloir bien...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 21 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received your favour of the 12th. Instant inclosing the Bills for 4444 Dollars. As it clearly expresses that it is drawn on public Account, and not on the private Accot. of Mr. Laurens, I have no scruple against paying it with the Approbation of his Son, tho’ not endors’d by him. I enclose that Approbation, with a little Instrument which I request you would...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 21 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From Bilboa by a vessel arrived from Salem they have receivd advice that the L’Eveilée Capt De Thilly fell in with the Romulus of 44 Guns with a Convoy consisting of 20 Transports bound from New York to the Assistance of Arnold. The accounts differ in the Number of Troops on board some mention 6000 others five hundred, 1200 suits Cloathing, Arms, and a...
9To George Washington from John Arbuthnot, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
If I had not been very busy when I Received your Letter dated the 25th of January last, complaining of the treatment of the Naval Prisoners at this place, I certainly should have Answered it before this time; And Notwithstanding I then thought, as I now do, that my own Testimony would have been sufficient to have put the truth past a doubt, I ordered the strictest Scrutiny to be made into the...
10To George Washington from Lewis Garanger, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have waited a long time for a favourable moment to be employed in the corps of artillery of the united states in the rank and under the conditions agreed upon between Mr Deare and Mr du Coudray, in the hope that it might take place without exciting any discontent among the artillery officers: but the operations which I have been in the last instance charged to execute in concert with some of...
11To George Washington from William Heath, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your two favors of the 20th. I am informed that twelve or thirteen men have deserted from the light infantry—but few of them have come to their regiments. It is generally thought, that such as have not come in are lurking in the vicinity of the post to hear how those who have come in are treated. The subaltern who was with Captain Pope and who had the immediate charge...
12To George Washington from Hugh Hughes, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to Inclose your Excellency the Knife you sent me. If the Point is not agreeable, it shall be alter’d whenever your Excellency is pleased to order it back. Permit me to assure you that I have not been inattentive to the accommodation of your lady or self. I sent to Hartford in order to know if a Fare of Salmon could be had, and was inform’d that none could be procured on...
13From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency the Count De Rochambeau, when I was at Rhode Island, made an application to me to have Colonel Champlin of New port appointed a Barrack Master under Authority of Congress, to be attached to the French Army—His reason was—that a native vested with the authority of our own government might act with more propriety and efficacy than a foreigner, or even a native merely employed by...
14From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Though the situation of Southern affairs would not permit me to recall your corps to this army, yet it was with great reluctance I could resolve upon seeing you separated from Head Quarters—My friendship for you makes me desirous of having you near me, and there will occur frequent occasions in cooperative measures in which it would be of the greatest utility I should have it in my power to...
15From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 2d and 13th Inst. Major Clarkson has communicated the Matter for which I am referred to him in your last. It seems a clue which may lead to an ample discovery of what has been some time suspected, provided the Emissary is sincere. But Major Clarkson cannot tell me whether he proposed to make himself known to me or whether he is to communicate his discoveries to...
16To George Washington from Richard Peters, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Friends of Capt. James Willing are pressing to have him exchanged & his long Sufferings entitle him to it. He is not in our Department & we are told holds only the Rank of Captain & that of an armed Boat. The Enemy have conceived him to be of so much Consequence as to claim a Lieut. Colonel for him. This seems un r easonable but there is a Lieut. Col. Rogers in the State Prison at...
17To George Washington from Friedrich Adolph von Riedesel, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Several German Officers of the Convention of Saratoga having applied to me to be exchanged on account of their particular private affairs, I made a requisition accordingly to Major General Phillips to propose such an Exchange to Your Excellency, and in answer to my request General Phillips communicated to me Your letter of the 25th of January to His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, in which the...
18From Abraham Skinner to Alexander Hamilton, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The 18th instant, I answered His Excellency’s Letter of the 14th in a line addressed to Colo. Tilghman—since which I have received The General’s Letter of the 16th and shall pursue the directions contained in it respecting the Demand of our Privates. As I know of no other Prisoners beside Lieutt General Burgoyne absent from America on Parole. I will dispatch the Letter addressed to Sir Henry...
19To George Washington from Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The preparations of the Enemy at Portsmouth indicating an intention of operating offensively and the number of Militia in the Field being too small to afford the least prospect of resistance, I thought it prudent to remove every species of Public Stores to some distance in the Country and on the 16th Instant gave orders for that purpose. The 18th Fourteen Sail of Vessells came up the River as...
20From George Washington to Nathaniel Stevens, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I should be glad to be informed by you, what quantity of Provisions, has within a few days arrived from the Eastward, & particularly of salted Meat from Connecticut, & what your immediate prospects are. I have written to the President of New Hampshire, urging that State to an immediate & regular compliance with the requisitions of Congress especially in the Article of Beef Cattle—I have also...
21To George Washington from Nathaniel Stevens, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of equal Date I have received: There has fifty Barrels of Salt Provisions & twenty six Cattle arrived from Connecticut since the Ninth Instant and Eighty Cattle from Massachusets. My immediate Dependence for a Supply was upon the Salt provisions put up in the latter, which appears to be about five thousand Barrels of Beef and three thousand Barrels of Pork deficient: In...
22From John Jay to Samuel Huntington, 21 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your Favor of the 18 Dec r . which was delivered to me on the 13 th . of March last— I am happy to hear that your Health permits you ^ still ^ to continue in your import in the Chair and to sustain the Weight of Business which the Duties of that office impose upon you. We have within these five Days The ^ interesting ^ news of Gen Morgans ^ glorious
23To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I need not represent to your Excellency the insecurity of this place. We never can proceed with any degree of certainty in any of our public works while the enemy command the rivers. The state of our arms requires security to the workmen from alarms, and I am confident we shall never be able to get them repaired, unless some buildings are prepared for them in a safe place above the falls. I...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Col. Th. M. Randolph has a large flat or lighter, which he tells me can go sixteen miles above his house . It would carry off a great deal of stores if we had it, and I am very apprehensive without it we shall lose a great deal. I am but little acquainted with him, otherwise should make the request myself. I would therefore submit it to your Excellency whether you would think it proper to...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Dick, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Fredericksburg, 21 Apr. 1781 . Wrote “About 3 Weeks ago … for a Sum of Money to be brought me for the Use of the Factory by Capt. Peter Minor, who has been some time return’d and brings me no Answer about it. My Credit, Word, Honour and every thing mortal can do will not hold out longer with the people unless I am supported with Money. And it is Amazing the quantity of Arms old and New have...
26William Ellzey’s Certification of Charles Lee to Practise in the County Courts, [21 April 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of His Excellency Thomas Jefferson Esqr. Governor of Virginia I have examined Charles Lee Esqr. touching his Capacity abilities and fitness to practice as an Attorney in the County Courts and do find him fitly qualified to practice in such Courts. Certified under my hand this 21st. day of April 1781. MS ( Vi ); in Ellzey’s hand, endorsed in a later hand: “1781 April 21....
27To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Harrison, [21 April 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Acrill Cocke this moment inform’d me that about three hundred of the Enemy are landed at Sandy Point, that three Square rigg’d vessels and two Sloops had got up to that place and that he saw one other coming up. I am with great respect Your most obedt Servt, RC ( PU ); addressed: “His Excellency The Governor Richmond Express”; endorsed: “B. Harrison’s Lre April 21st 1781.” The...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Harrison, [21? April 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
The main body of the enemy are landed at Mrs. Morecock’s in this country at the mouth of Chickahominy, supposed to be about twelve hundred. Their object I suppose to be the ships in that river. They came up in the night in about twenty flat-bottomed boats covered by a ship and a brig. I am &c. Tr ( NHi ); in TJ’s hand, headed: “Copy of a letter from Colo. B. Harrison of Chas. City.”
29To Thomas Jefferson from William Hay, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this Moment favoured with a Letter from Mr. Nicolson from Fredricksburg containing very agreeable Intelligence of which the following is an Extract, “By a Gentleman immedeatly from Philada. we have the Agreeable Information of the Arrival of the second Division of the French Fleet off the Capes of Delaware consisting of 9 sail of the Line and 7 Frigates. They were spoke with by a Brig...
30To Thomas Jefferson from William Hay, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 21 Apr. 1781 . Difficulties of Hay’s brother, whose rheumatism prevents him from paying “the least attention to his Bussiness” and whose “two Store Boys are now under Marching Orders, so that his Store with a large Quantity of Goods must be left to the Mercy of the Negroes &c. … Among the Goods now in the Store there is at least One hundred Pieces of Sail Duck of the best Quality...