151To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 29 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Schuyler, who left us the 10th Instant, promised me to give Your Excellency a very particular Account of the State of the Northern Army; I conclude he has done it, but it might not have reach’d your Hands when the post left New York the 19th Instant; Your Excellency’s Letter of That date, is now before me. The Board of General Officers mentioned by your Excellency, were Assembled by...
152To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 23 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellent Letter of the 23d: of March, and one by Mr. Dana, are now before me. How any Mortal can entertain an Idea that Liberty, and Safety, can be secured without Independency, I have no Conception; this half Faced policy, may amuse Timid Statesmen, Treacherous Whiggs, and the Tools of Designing Scotchmen; but not one Honest, Sensible, determin’d American can be deceived by it; go on to...
153To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 22 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Upon my Arrival in this Department; I found the main Body of the Army encamped at Van Schaack’s Islands, which are made by the Sprouts of the Mohock River, joining with Hudson’s River; nine Miles North of Albany —A Brigade under General Poor encamp’d at Loudon’s Ferry, on the South Bank of the Mohock River, five Miles from hence—A Brigade under Genl Lincoln, had Join’d Genl Stark at Benington;...
154To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 8 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
Monday Night Two Thousand men under the Command of Brigadier General Thomas took possession of Dorchester Heights; a vast Quantity of Materials being previously Collected, especially Chandiliers, and Fascines, our Troops were soon covered, and long before day, began to Break Ground to thicken their defences against The Enemys Cannon. To Conceal our design, and divert the Enemys Attention, a...
155To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday evening the Bearer put into my Hands Your Excellencys Letters of the 12th, and 17th Instant; I shall immediately Order General Glovers Brigade to be in readyness to March at the shortest Notice; unfortunately for our Safety, your Excellency is as much deceived, as I am disappointed, in the Numbers expected to be rais’d for the defence of this State; Neither Providence, Massachusetts,...
156To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 2 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Letters from The Generals Heath, & Sullivan, clearly shew, that The Enemy do not meditate any Attack to the Eastward; it is now too Late: I also send Your Excellency a Memorial from the Offi cers of the three Brigades here. it is matter, which they seem exceedingly Anxious may be reconsider’d—Major Mesam has got the Orders he required, and Assures me General pattersons Brigade are...
157To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 26 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honour to write to Your Excellency, I have received the inclosed Letters from General Bayley, and Colonel Bedel. The intelligence contained in them, being nearly the same with that sent before, by several conveyances, to Your Excellency, I did not think it necessary to dispatch it by a Special Messenger. By the Numbers of Prisoners sent lately from New York, Newport, and...
158To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 21 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 17th Instant. The Enemy in this Quarter are also appearing to evacuate the Forts Washington, & Independence; having been observed from Fort Lee, to be moving some of their Heavy Cannon from the Hill, and to all appearance embarking them on board a Transport at the Wharf. previous to Your Excellency’s giving me the hint, I...
159To Benjamin Franklin from Horatio Gates, 7[–8] November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Thursday last I had the pleasure to send a Copy of General Lee’s Letter to Lord Thanet, and on Monday [another of?] one to General Howe, both these I suppose you received [ torn .] I made strickt inquiry as you directed me after [ torn ], and find he died, and was buried about a Week before [ torn Cam?]bridge, the Ten Dollars you paid into my Hands [ torn...
160To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 12 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honour to write Your Excellency my Letter of this morning I have received the inclosed intelligence from Canada and Rhode-Island. By a Letter the Issuing Commissary has this moment received from Mr Colt, There is hopes the Supply of Flour will be continued; Though we have only Twenty Barrells in Store at present I cannot persuade myself there has been any Natural Scarcity of...
161To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 15 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor to send Your Excellency the particular Returns of the several Continental Corps serving in this Department—from thence, I have the Satisfaction to find, that the Loss in the Action near Camden, is by no Means so considerable; as I had so much Reason to apprehend. I dispatched a Letter the 9th Inst: to Governor Jefferson, containing Intelligence of a particular Sort,...
162To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 8 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to Your Excellency’s Commands of the 26th Ulto, I immediately forwarded The inclosed Letter to General Heath; His Answer went from hence Yesterday forenoon by the Express who was The Bearer of Your Excellency’s packets; Lieutenant Castaing wrote by the same Express to General Du portail, to acquaint The General, of his intention to repair to Head Quarters the instant he is able to...
163To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 16 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer has this instant brought me the inclosed intelligence from Canada; I have in consequence Dispatch’d him immediately to Your Excellency. I have not a line from The president of Congress, since The letter which contain’d the Resolve for my removal to this Command; & Your Excellency’s Letter of the 6th Instant, is the last from Your Head Quarters. I am Sir Your most Obedient Servant...
164To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 8 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
By this Conveyance I have the honour to send Your Excellency, the last Accounts of the proceedings of the Enemy, as well upon Lake Champlain, as New York. I have long been of Opinion, that provided the ensuing Campaign, is Offensive on the side of the British, their Operations will be up the North River, and intirely bent to Attack the Eastern States; this is in some degree, an opinion...
165To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 20 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote Your Excellency the 18th. which was sent from hence By Express, on the Evening of that Day, and would proceed to Taylor’s Ferry, as Mr. Cooper the Stationed Express at Harrisbourg, was, at the Same Time on his Way to this place; the Latter arrived here Yesterday about One oClock A.M. and brought me Your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th. Inst. This Letter, came in Time, which was not the...
166To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 13 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to your Excellency by Mr Dodge, who has lately escaped from Quebec, in company with a Sachem of the Cognawaga Nation of Indians; he brings your Excellency the latest, and best intelligence from Canada. I am, Sir, Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Servant LS , DLC:GW ; ADfS , NHi : Gates Papers. John Dodge’s undated report, which GW docketed “John Dodge’s acct of the...
167To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 31 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
After taking an Exact View of The Works The Enemy Erected, to The Northward, & Eastward of Newport, I find it will be a much Heavier piece of Labour to Destroy them, than I immagined when I first wrote to Your Excellency. I have therefore earnestly Sollicited The Governour, & his Council, to give me such Assistance as the State can be prevailed on to Affored, toward Effecting the Destruction...
168To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 25 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Last Night the inclosed Letter, & paper of Intelligence, came to my Hands from the Council of The State of Massachusetts Bay; at their Request I forward it immediately by Express to Your Excellency — The informant being an Enemy, ought to be believed with Caution, indeed there are circumstances which induce me to think His Intelligence is by no means to be dispised, in the Main, I am inclined...
169To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
After sending upwards of Five Thousand Men to the Succour of the Southern Army, I hoped a further Draught from this Department would have been unnecessary; but Colonel Hamilton acquaints me, it was the Unanimous Opinion of a Council of War, that the whole of the Eastern Regiments should March from hence, & that Troops were only to be stationed at peeks Kill, And in the Highlands, for the...
170To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 1 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I recd Your Excellency[’s] Favour of the 20th : Ult. Just as I was upon the Point of Marching to the Westward. Upon communicating the Contents to Generals Huger and Stevens, and the principal Officers here, they Unanimously gave it as their Opinion, that I should not march from hence, until I received further intelligence of the Enemys movements, as well South Eastward, as Westward. I...
171To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 4 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I had the Honour to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th Ulto from Middle-Brook. I am sorry to find Your Excellency seems to have given over all thoughts of penetrating into Canada by the Route of Co’os, after the preparations made for that purpose, at an incredible Expence. I am satisfied you could not have advised with Two men, upon this Continent, better acquainted with...
172To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 6 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
This moment I had the Honour to receive Your Letter, dated Brunswick the 3rd Instant; and do most heartily Congratulate Your Excellency, upon the glorious News it Contains. I shall Order Colonel Hay to have every thing in readiness, for passing Your Army Cross the River at Kings Ferry. Inclosed I have the Satisfaction to send Your Excellency, the latest, and best Intelligence from New York. I...
173To Benjamin Franklin from Horatio Gates, 5 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society For this Week past Fortune has Smiled upon Us from All Quarters, and last Night, word was brought out of Boston by some Inhabitants who left it Yesterday, that a Vessel was Just arrived there from Quebeck. The Master of which Declared that Our Troops, Assisted by near 6000 Canadians, took Possession of that Capital a day or Two After the Middle of November;...
174To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
At Eight O’Clock last Night, I had the Honour to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of (Blank) day of May 1779, by Fredrick Deitz, who says he left Middle Brook Saturday Sen’night. The Letters from the President of the Congress, to the Councils of Massachusetts, & New Hampshire, were immediately forwarded. The Effect of all my former Applications to the three Neighbouring States is as Follows;...
175To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 30 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
My public Letter to Congress, has surely been transmitted to Your Excellency. Since then, I have been able to collect authentic Returns of the Kill’d Wounded and Missing of the Officers of the Maryland Line, Delawar Regt Artillerists, and those of the Legion under Colo. Armand, they are inclosed —The Militia broke so early in the Day, and scattered in so many Directions, upon their Retreat;...
176To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 25 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will find in this Packet, the Proceedings of a General Court-Martial held at Providence, upon the Trial of John Millimon, a Soldier in Colonel Angell’s Regiment, sentenced to be shot for Mutiny. I have hitherto suspended the Execution, for the undermentioned Reasons, and upon sundry Petitions and Applications, particularly upon one from his Excellency the Governor, and a...
177To George Washington from Brigadier General Horatio Gates, 22 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
Last night I was Honourd by the receipt of your Obliging Letter of 17th Instant, I shall Obey your Commands with all possible Expedition, & hope to be in philadelphia Thursday next, & wish earnestly to find you there. I must take the Liberty to entreat it of you, not to leave the Congress, until you are provided not only with all the Powers, but all the Means, their Power can bestow, if it is...
178To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 23 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour to receive your Letters of the 19th & 20th on Fryday Night, The principal parts thereof have been fully answer’d by the Honble The Committee of Congss, their Letter will also be deliverd to Your Excellency by Colonel Fitzgerald; Colonel De Haas left this City the day after I sett out for Morris Town, & is not yet returnd, I understand his Son was extreamly Ill, which...
179To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 2 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor to send Your Excellency a Letter I received last Night from General George Clinton, with my Answer thereto; The Regiment of Rifle Men, under Colonel Morgan, Marched from Saratoga the day After the Convention was signed; they will very soon be in the Neighbourhood of Your Excellency’s Camp. Congress having been requested, immediately to transmit Copies of all my...
180To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 24 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th Inst. from Morris Town is now before me. The Barracks at Ticonderoga, and Mount Independence, will not Contain more than One Thousand Officers and Men; the Hutts that were built last Campaign, might for ought I know, contain One Thousand more; but these being made of Earth, and flimsily put together, are mostly in Ruins. But Neither the Huts, or Barracks,...
181To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 7 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour to receive Your Excellency’s Letters of the 27th & 30th Ulto, by One and the same Express. In Obedience to Your Commands contained in the Letter of the 30th, I immediately Ordered General Glover with his Brigade to March for Fish-Kill. They left Providence this Morning Early. Inclosed are the Directions I have given General Glover, with the Route by which he is to March...
182To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 2 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will be presented to Your Excellency by Lieut. Col: Darke, who is lately returned from a Tedious Captivity in New York; he is an excellent Officer to Command Rifle Men, in which Service, he is particularly, and I may add very superiorly Instructed. His tried Courage, and Strong Natural understanding, Join’d to his experience in the Back Wood, and Indian Wars, render him completely...
183To John Jay from Horatio Gates, 15 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
Persuaded that your Excellency punctually attends to every Thing which may respect the Eastern Department, as you declared in the first Letter I have been honoured with from you, since you are in the Chair; I hope all my Letters, since my Arrival in Boston, will be answered as far as it may be necessary for my Conduct. I do not yet know what Congress intend to do towards fortifying this City...
184To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed Papers your Excellency will see the Designs of Congress in forming the Plan of an Irruption into Canada. Their political Motives for appointing the Officers to conduct the Expedition need not be mentioned, as your Excellency must be struck with the Propriety of the Measure. The Board have carefully avoided weakning the Army under your immediate Command, as they well know the...
185To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 7 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to be Obliged to acquaint Your Excellency with the great Distress of the public Af⟨fairs⟩ in this Department; First for want of Bread, & next for want of Money to pay the Troops, who have now more than Six Months Arrears due to them. The Arrival of some Flour lately has relieved us in a degree from the Complaints occasion’d by the total want of that article, but not before three...
186To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 18 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have within this Half Hour received the inclosed papers, and Letters, from Colonel Cheever, Colonel Mason, and the Officer Guarding the Arsenal at Springfield. Since my being Commanded to This Department, I have not given any Orders with Regard to the post at Springfield, lest my directions should Clash with those given by Your Excellency, or General Knox; I well know Ordnance Affairs are...
187To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 7 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honour to Transmit to Your Excellency, a General Return of the Troops immediately under my Command. it is as perfect as the Circumstances will Admit, but the Numbers at the General Hospital at Lake George, & upon both Communications, where Correctness is not attended to, with that Diligence required by good Discipline, obliges me to send it somewhat imperfect to Your...
188To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 6 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letters of the 17th and 24th of last Month. It is not in my power to give Your Excellency any Official Information respecting the penobscot Expedition, having never been Concern’d in, nor even consulted upon, that Unfortunate Undertaking—I hear from persons who were there, and have returned to this Town, one of whom was an...
189To John Adams from Horatio Gates, 17 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer, and my Letter to Mr. Hancock will acquaint you that I am no Dictator here, and consequently have it not in my power to serve Mr. Rice. I desire if Chase is return’d to Congress, he may know, how much I have been Deceived, and Disappointed in being removed from a place where I might have done the Publick Service, and Fix’d in a Scituation where it is exceeding Doubtfull, if it will...
190To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 8 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
At Eight last Night I had the Honour to receive Your Excellency’s Letters of the Second, and Third Instant—From the moment I First immagined The Fleet of France to be upon Our Coast, I anticipated every Wish of Your Excellency in my preparations to be in the utmost readyness to Act with The Troops in This Department as Your Orders might require—Boats, I have enough, to Transport Our whole...
191To George Washington from Major General Horatio Gates, 21 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Fryday Evening I had the Honour to receive Your Excellency’s Letters of the 11th, & 13th of this Month. When I took the Liberty to Suggest that a Glorious Opportunity presented itself for Attacking New York, I conceived the Detachments The Enemys General had made from thence, during his Winter Quarters, was much Greater than from Your Excellencys better information I was well warranted to...
192To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, [19 July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the honor of seeing your Excellency at Richmond I was taught to look forward to much difficulty and a perplexed department, yet I cannot but profess that, in the course of a long and often critical service, it has hitherto never fallen to my lot to witness a scene of such multiplied and increasing wants, as my present command exhibits. Of the Militia voted by your State only 1438...
193To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 9 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Intelligence of a very particular sort is Just arrived from Camden, by a person in whom we can confide; and no doubt remains, but that he may have been imposed upon by a Finesse of the Enemy. Since then, Two Deserters from the Enemys 23 Regiment, came in, in a manner confirm the Intelligence. It is as Follows. That Lord Cornwallis is going immediately to Embarque his Main Force at George Town...
194To John Jay from Horatio Gates, 29 January 1779 (Jay Papers)
Since I had the Honour to write to Your Excellency upon the Instant, I have received the inclosed intelligence from General Bayley, and Colonel Bedel, Copies of which are also transmitted to General Washington. I am confident the Enemy’s Magazines of Provisions are exhausting very fast. Admiral Gambier, sent from New-York, to New London, in Three Vessels with Flags of Truce, 367 Prisoners;...
195Plan for Attacking Boston, 18–25 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to Your Excellency’s Orders, we have considered the Matters referred to Us, & beg leave to recommend the following Signals to be given from Roxbury, in Case of any Movement of The Enemy to Distress our People at Dorchester Hill: Signal in Case the Enemy begin to Embarque, a Flagg on Roxbury meeting House; If they Actually Land at Dorchester Two Flaggs, One, over the Other; In case...
196Instructions to Reuben Colburn, 3 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
You are to go with all Expedition to Gardnerstone upon the River Kenebeck, and without Delay proceed to The Constructing of Two Hundred Batteaus, to row with Four Oars each; Two Paddles and Two setting Poles to be also provided for each Batteau. You are to Engage a Company of Twenty Men consisting of Artificers, Carpenters, and Guides to go under your Command to Assist in such Services as you,...
197Supplies Required for Gates’ Army, August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
State of North Carolina August 1780. 500 Tents Compleat Intrenching Tools 2000 Barrels Flour *500 Spades 4000 do. Corn *200 Grubbing Hoes 250 do. Rice *100 Common Hoes 50 Hogsheads Rum *200
198From George Washington to Denis-Jean-Florimond Langlois de Montheville, marquis Du Bouchet, 8 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
From the annexed Certificate from Major General Gates under whose command Major Debouchet principally served while in the American Army, and from my own observations while under my immediate command, I have every reason to recommend him as an Officer of Zeal—Intelligence and Bravery. Given at Head Quarters at Newburg the 8th of December 1782. DLC . These Certify that The Bearer, Major...