24761To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Col. Tilghmans Letter I have received. The Enemy are gone over to Jersey I will endeavour to get an exact account of the numbers & transmit you in haste I am your Excellency’s Obedt Hble servt a Gentleman of credit says they marched in a solid Column & were an hour & half crossing Derby Bridge, without any impediments. ALS , DLC:GW . Although this letter is undated, its context suggests that...
24762To George Washington from Captain Mauduit Du Plessis, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
if his excellency has desseing to attack in one monts, the british in the province’s island, the fort read-bank is to be kept, and defend’d until the last extremity. for, if the general Wasington take possession of the province’s island, it will be Difficult to take the fort-Mifflin, when the ennemy will be in possession of fort read-bank, and in my opinion, if his excellency take the...
24763To George Washington from Colonel Christopher Greene, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency I dare say has been informd of the evacuation of Fort Miflin, and the Gallant defence there made by Major Thayr. The evacuation of that Fort The removal of Our Navy. The movements of the British Fleet, and our own situation at present has put it wholly out of my Power to answer those important purposes for which your Excellency was pleased to order me to this Command. Our Fleet...
24764To George Washington from Captain Bartholomew von Heer, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Representation to the Commander in Chief of the American Army. The Commander in Chief I understood he was Informed by a certain Noble Gentleman in the Army that it was of great Necessity of the Good of the American Army and for the Publick of the United States of America to Raise a Core of Marishosy which as such Core is used in every power in Europe in time of Warr and peace to Support the...
24765From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 17–18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that Fort Mifflin was evacuated the night before last, after a defence which does credit to the American Arms, and will ever reflect the higher honor upon the Officers and Men of the Garrison. The Works were intirely beat down, every peice of Cannon dismounted, and one of the Enemy’s Ships so near, that she threw Grenades into the fort, and killed the men upon the...
24766Orders to Major Generals Arthur St. Clair and Johann Kalb and Brigadier General Henry Knox, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Major General St Clair, Major General Baron Kalb, and Brigadier General Knox. Gentlemen You are to proceed with all convenient expedition to Fort Mercer, where by conferring with Brigadier General Varnum, Commodore Hazlewood and such other Officers as you may think proper to consult—and from your own view of the ground and river, you will investigate the following Points. 1....
24767From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday covering Col. Greene’s letter I received prior to which I had the Account of Fort Mifflin being evacuated. The Fascines which you were to make may still be wanted tho’ the Army is not to cross the Schuylkill for some little time; you had best not collect them all at any one place as they might become an object of the Enemy’s attention and occasion an attempt to destroy...
24768To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Two Gentlemen, one from General Varnum and the other from the Fleet with Dispatches for your Excellency having this Moment arrived, we took the Liberty to open them—from their Contents I fear that our Journey will be to no great Purpose, but it is the general Sentiment that we proceed; and we shall endeavour to take such Measures as may be most conducive to the public Good, and return as soon...
24769To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 17 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of the Enemy’s arm’d Vessells laying at Fort Mifflin, their Provision Vessells pass unmolested, up to the Mouth of Schylkill, between mud Island and Province Island. A Considerable Number of Shipping have moved up this Day & anchored off Billingsport. It is probable they may intend landing the Troops from New York, w’ch in Addition to those already there, (I mean Billingsport)...
24770General Orders, 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Government of the State of Pennsylvania, having appointed Commissioners in each county thereof, to collect blankets and cloathing for the army—All officers sent round in the state for that purpose are, by their commanding officers, to be called in as soon as possible, with what cloathing they have. Richard Claiborne Esqr: is appointed Brigade Major to General Weedon’s brigade, and is to be...