81From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 30 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have desired Genl Gates to give you immediate information of the arrival of the Enemy’s Fleet in Delaware, upon which you are to move down to Philada with all the Troops at Trenton. My former directions were to wait orders of march from me, but you are now to attend to those of Genl Gates. Be pleased to communicate this to the Officers commanding the different Corps and desire them always to...
82From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this day favor’d with yours of the 27th & 29th of May. I am surprised at the accounts you give me of the want of Cloathing for the Troops of Massachusetts. I took it for granted that they had been sent forward when it was intended that all your Troops shou’d go the Northward, & that they wou’d meet them at Peekskill. My reason for this was, that the Cloathier General repeatedly assured me...
83General Orders, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . A transcript of another orderly book from GW’s headquarters includes a general order for this date that reads: “The regimental paymasters will apply for the pay for the months of March, April, and May” ( NN : Bancroft Collection). GW’s warrant book for this date records a payment of $70 to “Christopher Colles, preceptor of Mathameticles to the Artillery for June”...
84From George Washington to Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 22 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you on Friday last requesting your earliest arrival with the Troops under your command to join me. This I must repeat, and have sent an Officer on purpose to deliver my Letter, to whom I refer you for the particulars of our Situation & that of the Enemy at this Time. I shall only observe respecting them, that the main body of their Army lay last night, near French Creek Bridge about...
85General Orders, 5 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
[Officers] For the day Tomorrow[:] Brigadier General Wayne[,] Colonel Craig[,] Lieutenant Colonel Johnston[,] Major Hamilton[,] Brigade Major Darby Morning Orders November 5th Major Knapp is appointed Field Officer of the day, for this day, vice Major Throop, furloughed. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
86From George Washington to John Jay, 21 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Rawlins who as well as his officers in general distinguished himself at the affair of Fort Washington has remaining of his Regiment about fifty or sixty men and a few officers. As the latter are at present an expence to the Continent without being employed—and the Colonel after having deserved well of his Country and suffered a grievous captivity, has some claim to attention—I beg...
87From George Washington to Brigadier General George Clinton, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Captain who escaped from New York on Saturday Evening and who arrived here this morning, informs, that about Three Thousand Troops (British & Hessians) were embarked from the City & Staten Island when he came away. It was generally said, they had in contemplation an expedition to Chesepeak Bay and to make a descent on the Eastern Shore. There were some who conjectured, they mean to go up the...
88[Diary entry: 16 May 1780] (Washington Papers)
16th. A very great dew & fog. With little wind in the forenoon & very warm. In the afternoon it was pretty fresh from the Southward and about dusk came out from the Northward.
89From George Washington to Colonel William Woodford, 30 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th Inst came to my hands a Post or two ago and the answer delayed longer than I intended from the multiplicity of business in which I am engaged.— I am sorry you should consider Genl Mercer’s late appointment as a slight put upon your services, because I am persuaded no slight was intended.—Whilst the service was local, and appointment of Officers affected no other Colony...
90March [1780] (Washington Papers)
1st. Raining in the morning and drizling all day with very little Wind but a thick fog. Roads very deep. 2d. Wind coming out very fresh at West. In the Night it cleared, & froze a little. Continued boisterous thro’ the day & towards evening grew cold. 3d. Ground hard frozen. Morning clear & pleasant with but little wind and that from the South. Mid-day cloudy & lowering—variable...
91From George Washington to Major General Benedict Arnold, 3 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your two agreeable favors of the 19 and 22 Ulto came to hand, which I now have to acknowledge. I am very happy to learn that your wounds are less painful and in so fair a way of doing well—the only drawback in the pleasure [I] receive is that the condition of your wounds is ⟨s⟩till such as not to admit of your active services this campaign. You will rest assured that I wish to see you in a...
92George Washington to Chevalier de la Luzerne, 15 February 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] February 15, 1780 . Regrets that the shortage of men makes it impossible to send detachment to guard William Duer’s tree-cutting expedition. Believes that a guard will not be necessary, but suggests applying to the local militia, if one is desired. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
93From George Washington to George Campbell, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I accept with singular pleasure the Ensign of so worthy a Fraternity as that of the Friendly sons of St Patrick in this City: a society distinguished for the firm adherence of its members to the glorious Cause in which we are embarked. Give me leave to assure you, Sir, that I shall never cast my Eyes upon the Badge with which I am honored, but with a grateful remembrance of the polite and...
94From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your two favors of the 11th instant. The latter announcing the appearance of the French fleet off New-port harbour. We wait anxiously for further particulars which we expect to day. Mr Corny mentions the bad state of the road of communication between Providence and New-port. It appears essential, as the intercourse may be great on this route, to have it attended to. I...
95From George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 14 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received a letter of the 28th ulto from his Excellency Governor Jefferson of which the enclosed is an extract. It being impossible for me under present circumstances to take up the Business, you will be pleased to follow the directions therein contained, and nominate such Officers to reinlist the old Soldiers as you shall deem best qualified for that purpose. Inclosed you will find...
96General Orders, 14 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Artist Charles Willson Peale wrote in his diary that he dined with GW on this date after arriving in camp at noon ( Miller, Peale Papers Lillian B. Miller, ed. The Selected Papers of Charles Willson Peale and His Family . 5 vols. New Haven, 1983–2000. , 1:266).
97From 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...
98From George Washington to David Forman, 1 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 31st was handed to me by the Express at 8 o clock this Morning. I thank you again for your unwearied attention in communicating with so much rapidity the advices you receive of the Enemy’s Movements. A report is circulated that some Land forces arrived in the fleet from the West Indies; I could wish that matter to be ascertained, as also whether any Troops sailed with the...
99From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I transmit you a letter of the 8th—extracts of the 12th—and one of the 24th instant from Brigadier General Hand, which he forwarded to me, not knowing where to find you. I have mentioned in my letter to Gen: Hand my forwarding Them to you. I shall write the board of war to send the supplies of clothing for the 11th Pennsylvania regiment I shall also request them—to forward a set of shoemakers...
100From George Washington to Captain Thomas Nelson, Jr., 18 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 7th Inst. You plead so powerfully and urge so many reasons to leave the ⟨Ar⟩my, that I cannot refuse your request altho it is with regret I see a Gentlem⟨an⟩ go out of it. The principal cause of your Application, However, you have no⟨t⟩ expl⟨icit⟩ly ⟨s⟩tated, But yet I p⟨res⟩ume my Conjectures respecting It, are just and right. I suppose it is your...
101From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Clark, 4–7 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
As the Convention Troops will have passed above you by the time this reaches you, the object of your Station at the Clove will have been effected. You will therefore be pleased to move down to Paramus with the Carolina Brigade and quarter your Men in as compact a manner as the situation of the Buildings will permit. You shall, upon my arrival at Middle Brook receive more particular...
102From George Washington to Brigadier General William Maxwell, 12 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 8th and 11th instant, with the several news-papers came duly to hand. I have no objection to Mr Wolfen continuing in his present duty. However, it may be necessary to have the men relieved by a fresh party, that the fatigue may be equally borne by the whole corps, that is in case of its being severe. I have the same idea of the impropriety of such inlistments as you have...
103From George Washington to John Glover, 22 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favrs of 30th Apr. & 4th instant. It was very well, in the Situation of the Recruitg Business in your State, that you interposed to put it on a more promising footg—I wish it may now proceed with better Success & more dispach than has hitherto attended it. In the Situation of your Health, as described by you, it would I think be impossible for you to attend your Duty...
104From George Washington to Major General Adam Stephen, 20 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The horseman delivered your favour of this date—You will be pleased to order Lieut. Bradford under Arrest, that he may answer the Charge of the Court of Inquiry immediately—Capt. Russell must be called upon to account for his long Absence from his Regimt as well as for having inlisted his Men but for a year —I lament Capt. Conway’s loss; but tho’ my Indignation at such ungenerous Conduct of...
105From George Washington to Jeremiah Powell, 28 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive Your Two Favors of the 5th and 10th Instant. With respect to the subject of the first, there is nothing which I more earnestly wish than to give protection to every part of the States, and to secure them against the incursions and depredations of the Enemy; but unhappily the means in my power are totally inadequate. Our force from the fatal system of short...
106From George Washington to The States, 31 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting herewith accurate Returns of the number of Men now actually in service from your State, in order that measures may be taken for compleating the Regiments to the full establishment, agreeably to the Resolution of Congress of the 10th of Decr. I cannot omit so favourable an opportunity of expressing my sentiments on that subject, to your Excellency, & of...
107From George Washington to John Hancock, 11–13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform you, that since my Letter of the 8th and 9th Instt, which I had the honor of addressing you, Nothing of importance has occurred, except that the Ships of War, which I then mentioned, in their passage up the River, took a Sloop that was at Anchor off the Mouth of Spitendevil, and Two of our Row Gallies, which they out sailed. The Crews finding that they could not prevent...
108General Orders, 21 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
For the day tomorrow Major Merrill Brigd. Qr Mr 1st Massa. Brigade For duty the 6th Massachusetts regiment. Whenever a Brigade or corps are under arms on a field day. field returns are to be presented to the Commander in chief, or Reviewing officer; exhibiting the actual strength of the corps, the number of men under Arms, and accounting summarily for those who may be absent. The greatest...
109[Diary entry: 30 April 1780] (Washington Papers)
30th. Morning pleasant and clear, with the Wind Southerly—afternoon Showery and foggy.
110From George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your two favors of the 24th & 25th have been duly received. Fully impressed with the idea of the Utility of early, regular & accurate communications of the kind in contemplation—I shall make no difficulty in acceding to the proposal contained in Your Private Letter from N. Port of the 25th—But at the same time, I am engaging in behalf of the United States, a liberal reward for the services of...