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...
381From George Washington to the Board of War, 14 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
In answer to Your Letter of the 4th Instant which I had the Honor of receiving the 12th—I beg leave to inform You, that from the diminution of our force at Fort pitt by the expiration of the Men’s inlistments and the impracticability of replacing them from hence there is no prospect of our undertaking shortly any offensive operations in that Quarter. I would not wish this however to delay the...
382To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Board of War, 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
By Appointment under the new frame of Government established in this State, we succeed the late Council of Safety in the Military Department, of course your Excellency’s letter of the 28th Inst. came before us, and from our knowledge of the late Council, we can assure your Excellency that it was thro’ inadvertency that they infringed upon the powers invested in you by Congress, and not by...
383To George Washington from the Board of War, 9 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 2d inst. & are extremely concerned at the Want of Shoes. We hope some Relief may be drawn from the Commissaries in the Vicinity of the Army & we will put in Motion all the Shoes there are in the Hands of those more remote. Mr Henry is now in Town & will exert himself as much as possible. He has about eight thousand Pair which were...
384To George Washington from the Board of War, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d. We will report the Affair of Genl Irvine to Congress. He will doubtless think it hard that because he was taken Prisoner & could not be promoted in Season he should suffer as to his Rank. But the Reasons your Excellency offers are so forcible that it should seem impracticable to comply with Genl Irvine’s Wishes without very...
385To George Washington from the Board of War, 20 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The board do themselves the honor to inclose copies of some letters which they have recd on the subject of the Supplies of the Army. They are exceedingly concerned that the prospects from some of them, are so unpromising. And are much alarmed for the consequences; nor can they conjecture what may be the event, unless the late regulations in the finances produce a favorable change in our...
386To George Washington from the Board of War, 13 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We have been honoured with your Letter of the 8th and have communicated to Mr Murray and Major Stein the mode of procuring the Exchange of the latter for Major Murray as pointed out by your Excellency and which we think very just and right both as to the Thing itself and the manner of conducting it. We will enquire into the Numbers of Men of the marching Regiments detained as Artificers. These...
387From George Washington to the Board of War, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive Your several favors of the 23d 24th 25th & 25th Instant. I have spoken to the Quarter Master General upon the subject of Waggons and he has written, I believe, both to Mr Pettit & Mr Mitchell to use every possible exertion to obtain a supply. I am exceedingly pained—that we are so deficient in point of Arms. As to the demands you mention to have been made by...
388From George Washington to the Board of War, 23 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 12th and 15th instants, in consequence of the latter I dispatched Copies of your letters to Mr Skinner deputy Commissary of prisoners who was not at Elizabeth town to repair thither to take the necessary paroles from Majors General Philips and Riedesel and the Officers accompanying them previous to their going into New York—The paroles taken by Colo. Bland...
389From George Washington to the Board of War, 22 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 17th Instant. Besides the absence of General Hand and the want of a state of his claim—the Resolution of the 4th of February only authorises me to settle the rank of Officers under the degree of a Brigadier —and therefore at any rate the case between him and General Irvine could not be taken up without special authority for the purpose; which has...
390From George Washington to the Board of War, 3 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your favour of the 27th Ulto on the 1st instant, inclosing sundry resolves of Congress and other papers respecting two expeditions meditated into the Indian Country one from the Southward and the other from the Northward. I have since the receipt of it been endeavouring to collect the necessary information concerning the means already provided, or to be provided...