1From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 31 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Colo. Putnam, who has been employed as an Engineer in the Army under my Command, is now on his Way to New York; I have order’d him to wait upon your Honor to afford you such advice & assistance in the Construction of your Works as his time will permit. You will find him capable and ingenious, & I am happy in having this opportunity of sending you an Officer of such experience. I am...
2From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 20 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am exceeding sorry to hear your State has ordered several Battalions to be raised for the defence of the State only, and this before proper measures are taken to fill the Continental Regiments; You cannot be insensible how unequal any one State is unconnected with the others to defend itself, if the Enemy shou’d make a descent against it with any considerable force; neither have you the...
3From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 14th instant. I shall make it my particular Business to demand Capt. Chase’s Son in Exchange for Mr Hutchinson or Govr Shirley’s Son, as he is certainly justly intitled to it. I thank you for the enquiry you have made after Thomas Rogerson. I am pleased to hear that your General Assembly are determined to take such methods as shall seem to them most effectual...
4From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
You will please to accept my Sincere Acknowledgments for your favor delivered me by General Green, on my Appointment to the chief Command of the American Army—The Voluntary Choice of Freemen contending in the great Cause of civil Liberty, & the concurring Approbation of the wise and good, at the same Time that they confer the highest Honour upon the Object of that Choice, demand the utmost...
5From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 9 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter received by Congress from Mr Thomas Green Coppy of which they did me the honor to inclose, I have the pleasure to hear of the arrival of Capt. Chace, with a valuable Cargo at Providence —and as that Honble Body have been pleased to order the Flints at Rhode Island, belonging to the Continent, to be sent to me here, (as ⅌ their Resolution Inclosed) I would therefore request you...
6From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 28 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 23d instant. the reasons why I did not hitherto represent the State of your Colony to Congress was in expectation of your forwarding unto me, a Sketch of it, in writeing. I Shall take the first Opertunity of doing it, and if my reccommendation thereof has any weight, with that August Body, it will give me much pleasure to render Service to your Colony. I am very...
7From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your Letter of the 9th Ulto. The Extracts you have been pleased to favour me with, shew, that the Two Regiments of foot & that of Artillery were established on a plan more extensive & generous, than that of mere, local defence, and the Objections formerly made are almost wholly done away, by the Order permitting the Men to be enlisted into the Continental...
8From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 15 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cambridge , 15 November 1775 . “Inclosed you have a Copy of instructions given to Genl Sullivan on his departure for Portsmouth New Hampshire.” LS , in Stephen Moylan’s writing, NjMoHP ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The contents of this letter are nearly identical to the third, fourth, and fifth paragraphs of GW’s letter to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., of this date. See Circular Instructions for...
9From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 4 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with yours of the 31st July—we have yet no certain Account of the Fleet which sailed out of Boston the 25th but if our Conjectures & Information are just we may expect to hear of it every Hour. I am now, Sir, in strict Confidence to acquaint you that our Necessities in the Articles of Powder & Lead are so great as to require an immediate Supply—I must earnestly intreat...
10From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke and Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Information, being of the highest Importance, I thought it proper to transmit it to you with all Dispatch. I am Sir yr mo. Ob. Servt LB , in Edmund Randolph’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The letter-book copy is addressed to Cooke and is followed by a note reading “A Letter in the same Words was written to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut.” Trumbull’s letter book...
11From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 21 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 18 & 19 Instant I received and am extremely sorry to hear that your Militia are so deficient in Arms—I fear the misfortune is too common, nor do I know how It will be remedied—In this Army, Although I have pursued every mode I cou’d devise for procuring them, there is still a great deficiency & a considerable number of men without any in their hands. The peculiar situation...
12From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 3 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 18th of last Month. The late ample arrivals of Arms at Philada and at portsmouth, added to those which we before had, puts us out of all further uneasiness on account of that necessary Article. The Eleven hundred and Seventy six stand which you recd from the continental Agent at Boston, will be very near the number wanted for your two continental Battalions when...
13From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 10 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The deplorable and melancholy situation, to which One of our Armies was reduced last Campaign by the Small pox & the certainty, that no precautions can prevent that disorder from infecting the Troops that act in the middle States, many being now infected with it, has determined me by the advice of my Genl Officers here to introduce innoculation immediately as the only means of preventing this...
14From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 14 March 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Nicholas Cooke, 14 Mar. 1776. On 18 Mar. Cooke wrote to GW : “I am favoured with yours of the 8th & 14th instant.”
15From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 14 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 11 Instant was handed me by the Two French Gentlemen, for which I am exceedingly Obliged to you—I have heard their proposals and plan for Supplying the Continent with Arms & Ammunition, which appear plausible and to promise Success; But not thinking myself authorized to enter into any contract respecting the same, and being not fully acquainted with the measures Congress...
16From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 20 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Letter accompanying of this was wrote before your favour of the 19th pr Express came to hand. Under my present Instruction’s and more especially, in my present Situation, I could not justify the sending of a Regiment from these Lines to you unless there was an apparent design of Landing a body of Ministerial Troops on Rhode Island; at present, I do not think this is to be apprehended, as a...
17From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 13 Inst. by Mr Phillips I received; In answer thereto you will be pleased to Order the Officers and men that have been stationed at Block Island, to march to this Camp; Reinforcements are wanting, & probably will be, when they are here, they will be Incorporated in the Continental army, if they Choose it; The many circumstances attending the new arrangement of which, had in...
18From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your favour of Yesterday by Express and shall take every necessary Step to send you all the reinforcement I possibly can, and that without delay. General Green was to have march’d this day with five Regiments for Norwich by way of Providence. I have ordered him to hasten his March—General Sullivan with six Regiments sett of last Friday Evening for Norwich. I have...
19From George Washington to James Bowdoin, Nicholas Cooke, and the New Hampshire Convention, 7 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I make no doubt but before this, you will have heard, that the Enemy have evacuated Jersey. This information, I should have done myself the pleasure of transmitting you by the first Opportunity after the Event, had not my attention been employed in making a New disposition of the Army, and had I apprehended it materially interesting, that it should come immediately from myself. When Genl Howe...
20From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 1 Instt and return you my thanks for the Blankets, and your promise of having more procured, as they are much wanted: I did not see Mr Hale who brought them, nor the Account, or the Money should have been Transmitted you by his return—You will please to draw on the Quarter Master General and It shall be immediately paid. I have seen General Lee since his...
21From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
On the 15th of April I received your Letter of the 31st of March, accompanied by Captain Chace’s and two for Lord Howe. When the Letters came to hand Lord Howe was not at Philadelphia—nor did I hear of his arrival for some time after. This and the intervention of other circumstances prevented me sending the Letters addressed to him, and my intercession in favour of Mr Chase, as early as I...
22From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 29 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 25 Inst. came safely to hand. Capt. Whipple’s Voyage has been unfortunate, but it is not in our power to Command Success, tho’ it is always our duty to deserve it. I hope he will be mo⟨re⟩ Successful in his intended Voyage. If it ⟨is⟩ proposed in Consequence of the Direction of the Congress I think it proper you shoud apprize him that two Schooners have Sailed from hence to...
23From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 17 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
On Monday last I was honoured with your favor of the 5th Instt and beg leave to inform you, that the reasons which you assign for countermanding Colo. Richmonds march appear to me strong & substantial; As to the expedition to Long Island, it is impossible for me to give any direction about it, It must be governed by a variety of circumstances; nor will it be in my power to appoint any person...
24From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 17–19 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Inform you that this morning the Ministerial Troops evacuated the Town of Boston without destroying It, and that we are now in the full possession, upon which events I beg leave to Congratulate you, and sincerely wish If the Ministry persevere in the same unconstitutional and despotic measures which too long have marked their conduct, that our opposition and resistance...
25From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 17 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
By sundry persons and Accounts just from Boston I am Informed, that the Ministerial Army is in very great distress for want of fresh provision, and having received Intelligence that there are Two hundred Fat Cattle on Block Island, and some Transport Vessels cruizing that way in quest of Necessaries for the Army, I must request you to have the Cattle &c. removed from thence immediately, and...
26From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 6 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 25 & 30 Ultimo I received, and am to inform you that from the good Character you gave of Mr Aborn, I ordered the Agent in whose care his Vessell was, to deliver her up to him; There were other circumstances too, that were favourable to Mr Aborn & Induced a beleif that he was not Inimical to our cause. I am much Obliged by your kind attention to my two Letters of the 15 & 18...
27From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 26 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had an Account that three Men of War and Nine Transports had sailed out of Boston—and in the Evening I received a Note the Copy whereof is inclosed. The great Distress they are in at Boston for fresh Provisions makes it extremely probable they may make some Depredations along the Coasts: I have therefore thought it proper to give you the earliest Notice that the Owners of those...
28From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 16 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is exceedingly painfull to me, that I should have so often troubled you respecting this Army, and that I am under the necessity of applying to you again: But you must in some measure be Involved, in whatever difficulties attend me. To my great Surprize I find, that notwithstandg I had taken the utmost care to prevent the Soldiers, that would not reinlist in the New Army from carrying away...
29From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 5 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your two favors of the 20 & 29 Ulto and wish your acceptance of my thanks for your kind & ready compliance with my requisition for the Gallies and the matters of Intelligence transmitted in the last. The Account given Capn Bucklin on whose success I congratulate you, by Capn Bell of the Portuguese seizing our Vessels—I fear is too true—their dependance on the...
30From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 2 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will receive a Copy of a Letter from General Varnum to me, upon the means which might be adopted for completing the Rhode Island Troops to their full proportion in the Continental Army—I have nothing to say in addition to what I wrote the 29th of last month on this important subject, but to desire that you will give the Officers employed in this business all the assistance in your...
31From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 12–13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The situation of our Affairs and the approaching dissolution of the present Army, calling for every possible exertion on our part to levy a new one; and presuming that your State are about to make an arrangement of Officers for the Quota of Troops they are to furnish, and that they may wish to know those belonging to them who have served with reputation and bravery; I have thought it...
32From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
By an intelligent Person &c. (as in the preceding Letter) Your several Favours of 26. & 29. Septr were duly received—The Care of the Men respecting whom you request Direction in yours of the 29th I will consider of, as there are some Regulations forming in the Army of which I chuse to see the Result before I make any Disposition. you will therefore be pleased to have them employed in this...
33From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 23 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
this will be handed to you by the Barron of Woedtke, who was by distress of weather drove on shore at Cape Cod, he was bound from St Domingo to Philadelphia, to offer his Service & deliver Some Letters he has for different Members of Congress—as he is a gentleman & a Stranger I reccomend him to your hospitality & politeness—your attention must be very acceptable & advantagious to him, giveing...
34From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 7 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 4 Instant, I this moment Received, advising of the taking of a Captain & midshipman of One of the Kings Armed Schooners—You will be pleased to take their parole, not to leave North Hampton untill they are properly discharged, they will, be sent there, where there are several other officers, prisoners. As soon as the deficiency can be ascertained, I will Inform you, at...
35From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 2 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
In a Letter which I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 20th Ulto I could not help expressing my Sentiments of the Impropriety—as it appeard to me—of raising Troops on a Colonial establishment & thereby setting up a kind of seperate Interest, before your quota for the Continental Army was compleated. At the time of my writing that Letter, I was unacquainted with the terms on which...
36From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 6 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Washington’s Compliments to Governor Cooke and the Gentlemen of Providence, and acquaints them that he intended to have set out on his Journey this forenoon, had he not been prevented by their polite invitation which he will do himself the honor to accept. D , in William Palfrey’s writing, MH : Cooke Papers. GW was “invited to an elegant Entertainment at Hacker’s Hall, provided by the...
37Circular to Nicholas Cooke, Lord Stirling, Brigadier General William Thompson, and Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I take this earliest opportunity to acquaint you that the Men of War and Transports with the Ministerial Troops sailed this afternoon from Nantasket Harbour. There is only a Man of War and two or three other armed Vessels now remaining there. In consequence of this movement I have ordered a Brigade to march to morrow morning for New York, and shall follow with the remainder of the Army as soon...
38From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Lieutt Colo. Barton I was honored with your Favor of the 5th Ulto with it’s Inclosure. The spirit and disposition of this Gentleman for enterprize and of the Officers concerned with him in capturing Genl Prescot, give them a ⟨hi⟩gh claim to the thanks and esteem of ⟨their⟩ Country. Congress, persuaded of this, ⟨promoted Mr Ba⟩rton on the 24th Instant to the ⟨Rank and pay of a⟩ Colonel in...
39From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 1 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 18th Ulto by M. Green. As yet the Letter by you referred to, as explaining the Motives by which the General Assembly of your State were governed in ordering the Brigade to be raised for 15 Months, & the plan upon which they are inlisted, has not reached me. During the last Campain, the greatest part of the Army were at a...
40From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 14 March 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Nicholas Cooke, 14 Mar. 1777. When writing to GW on 14 April , Cooke says that “Your Excellency’s Favors of the 14th ult. and of the 3d instant are now before me,” and in another letter to GW of 31 Mar. 1778 Cooke writes: “Your Excellency wrote me on the 14th of March 1777 that General Howe had applied to you for the Discharge of Mr Hutchinson who was One of the Council...
41From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 13 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am favour’d with yours of the 10th & am Sorry it has so happened that the proposed Scheme of Intercepting the Enemy’s Ordnance Stores cannot have your Assistance. The Experience your Officers & Men have had by an earlier Attention to Sea Service would have made them very acceptable on the proposed Enterprize. The Fleet which sailed out of Boston a few Days ago & of which I apprized you the...
42From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 6 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favours of the 30th August & 2d Instt are duly received. The Concurrence of the Committee in the Bermudas Voyage is very agreeable & I hope will prove a happy Earnest of its Success. Inclosed is a Letter to the Inhabitants of that Island of the Tenor you have suggested: but I shall depend upon Captn Whipples not making Use of it except in Case of real Necessity. I am to acknowledge your...
43From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 17 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received the honor of your favor of the 6th Inst. by Messrs Collins, Babcock & Stanton, and should have acknowledged It before now, had I not been prevented by the peculiar Situation of our Affairs. I communicated my Sentiments to those Gentn upon the Subject of your Letter and the several propositions that were before me, who I doubt not will make a full and due report of the same to you...
44From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 31 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I received Information that Messr Clarke & Nightingale of Providence had imported a Quantity of Gun Powder, Lead & 500 Stand of Arms: Upon which I have dispatch’d Capt. Baylor one of my Aids de Camp to treat with those Gentlemen for the whole Importation if not otherwise dispos’d of. I have directed him to wait upon you immediately on his Arrival & must beg the Favor of your Advice...
45From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 14 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favors of the 8. & 11th Instant are duly received the former I laid before the General Court of this Province, but one of the Delegates having communicated to them, what Mr Ward did to you of the Proceedings of the continental Congress touching this Powder; nothing was done towards providing Specie, that the Vessel might proceed to other Places, in Case of Disappointment at the first. I...
46From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 2 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have your favour of the 28th Ulto before me—immediately upon reciept of it, I communicated the Contents to the D: Commissary, (Mr Trumbull being sick in Connecticut—) as a business appertaining to his department; but, as Deputy, he wishes for the direction of his principal, to whom I could wish you to write, as he is at Lebanon & not expected back under three Weeks—his intention I know, was...
47From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 18 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favours of the 9th, 14 & 15th Instt have been duly received: The Readiness of the Committee to co-operate with me in procuring the most authentick Intelligence & dispatching Captn Whipple for this Purpose, is peculiarly satisfactory, & I flatter myself will be attended not only with Success, but the happiest Consequences to the publick Cause—I should immediately have sent you Notice of...
48From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 8th Instt. The loss of the Island of Rhode Island gives me much concern, though an event that could not be well guarded against. I am happy that most of the Stock had been removed and wish the Cannon had been also brought away, our want of ’em by reason of our late losses, being great. Nothwithstanding this descent and the intelligence of more Ships...
49From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 13 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 6 Instt for which and Its several Inclosures I return you my thanks. Agreable to my promise, on the 30 Ulto I wrote Congress upon the state of your Colony, and Sollicited their attention to It and that they woud adopt proper measures for Its defence and relief—A Copy of my Letter you have inclosed for your perusal and further Satisfaction. It gives me much pleasure...
50From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, 8 March 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Nicholas Cooke, 8 Mar. 1776. On 18 Mar. Cooke wrote to GW : “I am favoured with yours of the 8th & 14th instant.”