351From George Washington to the Board of War, 26 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received the inclosed proceedings of a General Court Martial held by order of the Board —As I am not informed of any provision having been made for vesting the power of appoin[tin]g Courts Mar⟨tial⟩ in the Board (which is too confined in many respects), I should not think myself at liberty to confirm the proceedings of the present Court, were there no objection to the manner of the...
352To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 25 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We return your Excellency the Letters from Governour Rutledge which you did us the honor to send for our Perusal. No exertion of ours has been wanting to accelerate the march of the Detachment of Troops intended for Charles Town. But we must take Liberty to assure your Excellency that unless the Board of Trade receive your peremptory Orders to comply with the Schedule of Necessaries furnished...
353To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Congress having entered into the Inclosed Resolution of the 21st of April; The Board have been considering of such Methods of carrying it into execution as would be most advantageous to the Public, and at the same time be most likely to procure an immediate Supply to the Prisoners: They have attempted to get the Bills negociated in New York, but the demands of the persons they applied to, were...
354To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 2 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency having inadvertently mistated to the Assembly, the nature of the Requisition, made by the Board of War, and approved by the Executive; for the appointment of a second Clerk to our Office; We take liberty by the inclosure accompanying this, to inform you more fully of the meaning of our Request. We had not in Idea, the space of two months, or any time, shorter than the duration...
355From George Washington to the Board of War, 26 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 19th 22d and 23d instants with their several enclosures —General Duportails plan for the formation of the Corps of Miners and sappers shall be immediately revised and returned by himself with the amendments which may be, in my opinion, proper —I will have the dispute of Rank between Majors Mentges, Murray and Nichols carefully examined and will transmit to the...
356To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 11 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
We inclose to you for your approbation some arrangements which we think necessary to be adopted in the military and Naval departments. In the issuing the several portions of rum sugar Tea, and Coffee we have been regulated totally by the rank and rations of the several Officers, allowing to every rations as by Law directed one jill of Spirits, the other articles we have endeavoured to...
357To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, with Reply, 16–17 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Captain Minnis of General Mulenburgh’s family, who belongs to the 1st. Virginia Continental Regiment, being destitute of active employment, owing to the deficiency of the Virginia Line, has been called on to resume his command in his Regiment, and his company therein being extremely thin, he requests to be honored with the charge of a proportion of the recruits raised under the act concerning...
358From George Washington to the Board of War, 21 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 14th arrived at Hd Qrs about 10 OClock on the night of the 18th but owing to my being absent at West point I did not receive it till yesterday. The Gentn of the light horse of Philadelphia and Lieut. Col. White will have made report upon the subject of it. If any circumstances should occur, indicating a design on the part of the enemy against Philadelphia—I shall communicate...
359Council of War, 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at the Quarters of General Lee 16th Oct. 1776. Present. His Excelly General Washington[,] Major Generals Lee[,] Puttnam[,] Heath[,] Spencer[,] Sullivan[,] Brigadi[e]r Generals Ld Stirling[,] Mifflin[,] McDougal[,] Parsons[,] Nixon[,] Wadsworth[,] Scott[,] Fellows[,] Clinton[,] Lincoln[,] Colo. Knox, Commandr of Artilly. The General read sundry Letters from the...
360From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have lately had several applications from the Subalterns of the Massachusetts line respecting mistakes which they say happened in the arrangement settled at West point, and confirmed by Congress and agreeable to which their Commissions were issued. As I have no Copy of that arrangement I am unable to determine upon the propriety of their complaints—I shall for that Reason be obliged by a...
361To George Washington from the Board of War, 29 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the Honour to inclose you a representation of Major Ryan with General Wayne’s certificate annexed. We believe the Major capable of rendering great service as a Brigade Major & Inspector; and if his request can be granted we conceive he may be appointed to that Office without injury to the Service in general. We think his case singular, & that an exception may very properly be...
362From George Washington to the Board of War, 19 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have directed B. Gen. Knox to have prepared at Philadelphia, with as much expedition as possible, a small battering train. He informs me that he shall send Lt Col. Stevens to Philadelphia for this purpose. I beg the favor that you will afford every assistance to Lt Col. Stevens which the means you may possess will admit, According to the orders given by General Knox. The success of the...
363To George Washington from the Board of War, 4 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Samuel Potts Esqr. is ⟨desirous⟩ of ⟨conferring⟩ with his Brother Mr John Potts on the Lines. His Brother is about taking his Departure for England. As his Request comes most properly within your Excellency’s Determination we have referred Mr Potts to you making no Doubt of your granting him what he requires if you can with Propriety. We believe Mr Potts entitled from his Character...
364From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In the Letter, which I had the honor of addressing to you on the 18 Instant—I mentioned the scanty size of many of the Blankets, which had come to the hands of the Cloathier. By this conveyance by Wm Jones, I think it proper to send one for the inspection of the Board—by which they will find—how much we have been deceived—and the public imposed on in this essential article of supply; and also...
365From George Washington to the Board of War, 8 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Brgr Gen. Knox on the subject of an instant provision of shot and shells, and proposing the employing of Feash’ and Ogden furnaces for this purpose. As the matter is of the utmost importance, and requires an immediate decision, I intreat it of the Board. And should no arrangement have been made on this head I think these furnaces would answer the intention, and should...
366From Benjamin Franklin to All Commanders of Vessels of War, [4 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress To all Commanders of Vessels of War commission’d by the Congress of the United States of North America, These are to certify you, that the Bearer M. Riotto is a Subject of his most Christian Majesty the King of France, appertaining to his Highness the Prince of Conti, and that the Horses and the Dogs, or other Effects that...
367To George Washington from the Board of War, 7 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Board are desirous of sending by a Flag about fifteen hundred Shirts & fifty Barrells of Flour & a Quantity of Medesins to the Prisoners at Charles Town. We beg your Excellency therefore to procure Permission from Sr Henry Clinton for the Schooner Blazing Starr Burthen Ten Tons Thomas Smith sailing Master Charles McCarthy Flagg Master & two Seamen to enter the Harbour of Charles Town with...
368To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
We were duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject of Mr Loring’s request for a Quarter Master & a Serjeant or two to proceed to Philadelphia with Cloathing for the Prisoners at this Place. In Consequence we wrote to Congress the Letter a Copy whereof is enclosed. We are directed to take Order in the Bussiness & are of Opinion that the Cloathing should come on attended in such...
369From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts Board of War: Extract, 17 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Goodspeed’s Catalogue, no. 517 (1963), pp. 50–1. I was much oblig’d by your Favour of Oct. 20. containing the History of the Campaign, and exceeding good news of Gen. Burgoyne’s Deafeat, etc. I communicated it immediately to the Ministry at Versailles, to whom it gave the most perfect Satisfaction. I have now the Pleasure to acquaint you, that two Treaties between France and the...
370From John Adams to the Massachusetts Board of War, 16 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
There are three Gentlemen, in the Mercantile Way, Mr. Sigourney, Mr. Ingraham and Mr. Bromfield, who are now in this City, and propose to reside here and establish a mercantile House. These Gentlemen are very well known in the Massachusetts, and therefore it is unnecessary for me to Say any Thing concerning their Characters. They have travelled a good deal in Europe, and I believe have been...
371To George Washington from the Board of War, 3 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
We send you a Copy of Baron Steuben’s Regulations which he requested we would get neatly bound & transmitt your Excellency The Impossibility of having it done sooner must excuse the Delay. The enclosed Drafts of a Standard for the Army are sent for your Approbation, Rejection or Alteration. The Officers will be by & by pressing for Colours & if Materials can be procured they shall be made when...
372From George Washington to the Board of War, 4 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Schott waits upon you with a Return of Arms and Cloathing wanting for the several Corps therein mentioned which are ordered over to Wyoming. The Cloathing could have been furnished from hence, but it will be so much more convenient to send it from Philada to Esterton upon the Susquehannah and from thence to Wyoming by Water, where it will meet the Troops, that I have directed Capt....
373From George Washington to the Board of War, 25 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your two letters of the 15th and 16th. I am very happy to learn the Board have adopted the salutary expedient they mention for repairing the men’s cloaths and shoes. Something of this kind has been long wanting; and I hope the present plan will answer very valuable purposes, save much expence to the public and conduce greatly to the comfort and decency of the troops. An extra...
374From George Washington to the Board of War, 11 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am this morning honored with your letters of the 3 and 8th —I am happy to hear a reinforcement of cannon is coming on which is very important and was much wanted—The unmounted cannon had best be sent on slung upon waggon wheels—their carriages to follow as fast they are ready—I recommend this because the transportation of the cannon will be more slow and tedious than of the carriages which...
375Enclosure: List of Returns Requested by the Board of War, January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The following Returns are to be sent immediately to the Board of War. Infantry 1. a General Return of the Number of Serjeants, Privates & Drummers & fifers whose times of Enlistment will expire by the first of July next Regimentally digested. 2d A like Return of the men employed out of the Regts as in the Commanders in Chiefs Guard, Waiters on Officers who are absent from their Regiments and...
376Enclosure No. 2: Extract of a Letter from Major General Greene to Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, 19 December … (Hamilton Papers)
“You will see by some of my former letters, that, in consequence of your orders, I had taken measures, to provide such articles of clothing, as were necessary to complete the troops with their winter clothing. Messrs. Banks and Company have furnished most of the articles we shall want, and will provide the rest. Mr. Hamilton, the clothier, had instructions to contract with such as would supply...
377From Thomas Jefferson to the Board of War, 18 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Cap. De Klauman having sometime ago explicitly in the presence of the Board made his election to withdraw from duty in the Regiment of Artillery, and relied on his appointment to a majority in one of the Eastern Batalions and the vacancy thereby occasioned having been supplied by a new appointment, they are of opinion he cannot resume his command in that Regiment: the proposition to promote...
378To George Washington from the Board of War, 28 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Excellency’s Letter on the Subject of the Jersey Arrangements the Board (fully sensible from Experience of the Justice of your Observations on the Impropriety of the individual States interfering in such Cases) reported the Matter to Congress in Hopes of an Alteration in the System being produced. But we are this Day informed that Congress have been pleased to negative...
379From George Washington to Board of War, 5 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favors of the 17th and 26th ulto the first enclosing three plans for filling the present Vancancies and making future promotions in the Medical Line and which you were pleased to submit to my opinion—That I might obtain as extensive a knowledge as possible of the sentiments of the Army upon this matter, I committed the plans to the General Officers and desired...
380To George Washington from the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Board have recieved the Order of Congress, on the Subject of Baylor’s Regt, enclosed. We have no other Objection to the directing the Horses to be purchased but the excessive Price. It will cost near sixty thousand Pounds Currency to purchase the Numbers of Horses required. Yet on the Consideration, that the Men are provided with every other Article necessary to enable them to take the...