1From George Washington to Lt. Col. Roger Enos, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd your favor of the 26th of August and am glad to find that matters are like to be accommodated to the mutual satisfaction of the people of Vermont and those of the neighbouring States; where by the strength of a numerous Body will be thrown into the general scale, and the enemy disappointed in the hopes which they entertained of a separation of interests. You will be pleased to...
2From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Letter with which Your Excellency honored me on the 5th and the intelligence which you are to so good as to communicate afford me great pleasure by confirming the Ideas which I had entertained relative to the Hulks sunk by the Enemy in York River—It appears to me a physical impossibility to form effectual obstructions in a Channel so wide deep and rapid as that near York; this...
3From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 27th ulto which went by Colo. Stewart, I informed you that I expected to open Trenches before York Town by the 1st of Octo. A variety of Causes, among which the Want of sufficient Transportation, has been a principal One, has prevented that Event taking Place, ’till this Day—the Trenches will be opened this Night. The whole Army moved from Williamsburg on the 28th & took...
4From George Washington to Nathanael Greene, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
How happy am I my dear Sir, in at length having it in my power to congratulate you upon a victory as splendid as I hope it will prove important. Fortune must have been coy indeed had she not yielded at last to so persevering a pursuer as you have been—I hope now she is yours, she will change her appellation of fickle to that of constant. I can say with sincerity that I feel the highest degree...
5From George Washington to Lewis Morris, Jr., 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Memorandums for Lt Colo. Morris to be communicated to no person but to Major General Greene. General Greene to be informed fully as he has been shortly by letter that there was no alternative left—Count de Grasse’s destination was fixed to the Chesapeak and therefore as Lord Cornwallis was found there and in a most inviting situation, the operation against him took place of necessity. General...
6From George Washington to William Heath, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 13th—20—and 21st of September, have been received. The Quarter Mastr Genll’s of the Allied Army will be called upon for their return respecting Forage used at Phillipsburg, which you request; our present circumstances may perhaps render it difficult for them to attend to it at so early a time as may be expected. A Copy of the Report of a Board of Genll Officers, on...
7From George Washington to James Lovell, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged by the Comunication you have been pleased to make me in your Favr of 21st ulto. My Secretary has taken a Copy of the Cyphers—& by help of one of the Alphabets has been able to decipher one paragraph of a Letter lately intercepted going from Ld Cornwallis to sir Hry Clinton. Your letter in Genl Greene will be forwarded by a good Opportunity by which I expect to write tomorrow....
8From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I feel myself peculiarly obliged and honored by your Excellency’s interesting communication of the 26th Ulto. That America must place her principal dependence upon her own exertions I have always foreseen and have ever endeavoured to inculcate; and I flatter myself that from the wise system of policy which has been of late adopted and which Congress seem determined to pursue our internal means...
9From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor without date, but which I suppose to have been written about the 25th ultimo, as the Revolution for sending Genll Irvine to Fort Pitt bears date the 24th. Since mine to your Excellency of the 1st inst., we have been imployed in repairing the Enemy’s Works upon Pidgeon Hill, and in constructing a new intermediate Redoubt; These will serve to give...
10From George Washington to Edward Rutledge, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am fully impressed with the justice & truth of every remark contained in your letter of the 12th Ulto—and you may be assured were the means of carrying your wishes into effect under my controul & direction, that they should be applied as soon as circumstances would admit to the end which you propose. I have not time, neither could I with prudence enter into the reason which I think will...
11From George Washington to William Smallwood, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Favor of 26th of Septemr—I should have esteemed it a fortunate Circumstance to have had the Pleasure to have fell in with you on my Rout to Virginia. The 50 Men, engaged for three Years & the War, of the Maryland Line which you mention, I could wish should be moved on as soon as may be; equipped in the best manner you are able to effect—The Nine Months Men are not so...
12October 1781 (Washington Papers)
6th. Before Morning the Trenches were in such forwardness as to cover the Men from the enemys fire. The work was executed with so much secresy & dispatch that the enemy were, I believe, totally ignorant of our labor till the light of the Morning discovered it to them. Our loss on this occasion was extremely inconsiderable, not more than one Officer (french) & about 20 Men killed & Wounded—the...
13General Orders, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Officers of the day Tomorrow Brigadier General Clinton Colonel Vose Major Olney B. M. Fullerton. Lieutenant Colonel Dabneys regiment, the Delaware Detachment now doing duty with the third Maryland Regiment, and one hundred and sixty men which his Excellency Governor Nellson is requested to have selected from the Militia for the purpose, are to assist the Artillery during the present...
14[Diary entry: 6 October 1781] (Washington Papers)
6th. Before Morning the Trenches were in such forwardness as to cover the Men from the enemys fire. The work was executed with so much secresy & dispatch that the enemy were, I believe, totally ignorant of our labor till the light of the Morning discovered it to them. Our loss on this occasion was extremely inconsiderable, not more than one Officer (french) & about 20 Men killed & Wounded—the...