1To John Adams from Alexander McDougall, 5 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
While you are anxiously engaged to preserve the rights of your Country, I cannot entertain the least doubt, but you will readily excuse this address, when I assure you, I am induced to it, from a Sincere desire to promote the common cause of America in this City. The Delegates of this Colony who are in Trade, can inform you, I have no private interest, in the Subject on which I now Sollicit...
[ Near Milford, Connecticut, November 4, 1778 . On November 8, 1778, Hamilton wrote to McDougall: “I have received your favor of the 4th.” Letter not found .]
3To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 20 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you this morning pretty fully. I then forgot to inform you, that I got M r . Nichol’s provided for, in the Second Company of first Regiment; I wish he may retrieve his Character. There is great want of Artillery officers and men in Canad; none are Yet gone to that important Service. A Captain Momain, who speaks French, is appointed to an Artillery Company in the Continental Service,...
4To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 16 April 1776 (Jay Papers)
Your four last favors are now before me; my long Silence was owing to what you ascribed it. I have however Stole a moment, to peruse your Letters, and to return you some answer. We have two sloops and a peteauger armed on account of the Colony, ready to Saile on a Cruze. They have been detained for want of a regulation for the Seamen’s pay. One of the Sloops carries Six four Pounders, & the...
5To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 9 March 1777 (Jay Papers)
General Sullivan arrived here to To-day from Head Quarters in Jersey. He had it in charge from General Washington to communicate to me, a matter of the utmost importance in Condfidence. It is of Such a Nature and of Such moment that it must not be commited to Paper. I cannot Posibly Quit this post, or I would have mounted my Horse the moment he left me, (in his way to Connecticut) to converse...
Your two late favors by post came duly to Hand and note their Contents. You will see by Gaines Paper what our Convention ^ have ^ done on the Subject of Governor Tryon’s Letter; I hope it will please the Friends of the Common Cause, and avoid the difficulties, that Paper was designed to put us into. M r Smith brought ^ on ^ the Consideration of the Letter by motion, followed by a String of...
7To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 2 December 1776 (Jay Papers)
I have much to say to you, which the moveable State of the army prevented and still prevents. General Lee in Consequence of Positive orders from General Washington, is to Cross the north river to Jersey to morrow; with about three small Brigades of the Continental army, illy cloathed; many of the men without Blankets, Shirts or Shoes. Mine is the most wanting of in those articles. Those troops...
8To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 13 February 1776 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday we made a Convention. I have the pleasure to inform you it will be a full one a day or two They have such a spirit as will m[ain]tain the reputation of the Colony and the Common Un[ion.] When Mr Deane was here in the Course of the winter on the business of the Navey; I suggested to him the Propriety of geting a Copy of Lieu t . OBrien’s Naval evolutions, to be reprinted. He approved...
9To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 30 October 1775 (Jay Papers)
I have many matters of importance to communicate to you, respecting our own Safety and the Publick Security, which time will not now permit to enumerate. Sufice it that the Tories are chearfal, and too many of ^ the ^ Whigs make long Faces. Men of rank and Consideration refuse to accept of Commissions as Field Officers of the Militia; so that these commissions have gone a beging for Six or...
10To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 20 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
I received your favor of the 13 th , and am greatly pleased with the resolution of Congress interdicting the military to impose Tests, General ^ Lee ^ sent Col Sears on that extraordinary business without consulting the Convention, as he was near departing and the Colony is so much Suspected they Judged it best to pass the matter over; but I am perswaded it will be the last instance of their...
11To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 15[–16] November 1775 (Jay Papers)
Agreeable to my Promise to give you a memorandum of Severals acts and matters to be done relative to this Colony; I shall now mention them. The Troops, now at the Fort on Hudson’s river, being of different Regiments; and the minute-men to be sent ^ there as well as the former ^ having no Surgeon; it ^ will ^ be absolutly necessary, that one should be provided; in order to take Care of them in...
12To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 26 November 1775 (Jay Papers)
I am Sorrey to inform you, that the information I gave you, relative to the arrival of Powder, proved groundless. The vessel arrived which gave rise to the report; but brought none of that Article: She waited 36 days at Barcalona, to gain advice from the neighbourhood, whether any could be purchased; but none could be procured. The Powder in Spain was all in the King’s Magazines. To add to our...
13To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 29 November 1775 (Jay Papers)
It is now one P M, and Sixteen days, since the Congress was to have been convened; but we have not yet made a House; I think its probable we shall make one to morrow. It is an agreed point with all Civilized Nation[s], that a war is an appeal to God, as there can be none other to Judge between the Contending Parties. The Judge of all the Earth has determined in our favor, in the reduction of...
14To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 14 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
Your favors of the 4 th . and 8 th . instant I received this moment. It was the S t . John’s officers, and not those of Chamblee, who were apprehensive that the Capitulation would not be maintained; but if my information of the destination of that Corps be true, their Suspicions must be groundless. You are fully acquainted with ^ of ^ my opinion on the subject of the Tea. Sure I am their...
15To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 21 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
This will be delivered to you, by M r . Elijah Hunter—whom I suppose, you know, as a Friend to the common Cause of America. He goes to Philadelphia, on a Matter of importance, which he will communicate to you— It is of a very important and delicate Nature,— And I have my Doubts, on the Expediency of it’s being divulged, to any other Person whatsoever. If it is, there is Danger, that the Object...
16To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 24 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
As this day has given me Some respite, from the Hurry of Public Business, I embrace the favorable moment to give you some intelligence on our common Concern. The Convention who Elected our Continental Delegates, being unanimous in that choice, and the last Congress having in a full House recognized that act; it was Judged inexpedient by the Present convention, (as they are ^ not ^ a full...
17To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 7 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
While I am waiting for General Lee, Just at the Point of his departure, I am induced to put a few incoherent thoughts together. I fear the Confederacy will Suffer by altering General Lee’s destination, from Canada. The officer who is to command there should speak french, if such an officer can be procured; a frenchman’s eyes sparkles when he is addressed in that Language. Many ^ reasons ^...
18To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 21 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Letters will inform you of what is passing with The Enemy. A movement will soon take place. Nixon and Parsons Brigades are on the Positions you were pleased to assign them. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency Hble Servant. ADf , NHi : McDougall Papers. These enclosures have not been identified. See GW to McDougall, 19 June.
19To George Washington from Colonel Alexander McDougall, 20 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this moment honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 13th Instant; on the Subject of Cannon and shells. I should long ere now have forwarded the latter, agreeable to Colonel Knox’s memorandum, if I had not been interdicted by a former favor. you may rest assured that all Posible dispatch will be given to expedite the shells; but as the men of warr’s boats often Row gard to where the...
20To George Washington from Alexander McDougall, 26 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Necessity only can apoligize for this address, which I know will be as painfull to your Excellency, as it is mortifying to me. But the attention you have paid my private concerns, when they did not interfere with the public service, has induced me to hope this will not give you offence. The non payment of my wages, since I have been a General Officer, (except a very trivial sum) together with...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 22 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was happy to find that your favor to Col. Vose directed him to Stay in this State. But I am extreamly Chagrined, that the object of that order is not likely to be Effected. This State is totally deranged, without Government, or officers civil or military in it that will act with any Spirit. Many of them have gone to the Enemy for Protection, others are out of the State, and the few that...
22To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 13 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored in due time, with your Excellencys favor of the 8th Instant. Before the receipt of this, Colo. Cilleys Regiment embarked for New-Windsor, and was from thence, to take the Route of Sussex Court House, which I was informed, is the shortest distance to East-Town. I have not the most distant Idea, of General Clintons sailing, in the Fleet you mention. However, a few Days will...
23To George Washington from Brigadier General Alexander McDougall, 16 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your favor of the 9th Instant, covering an open Letter to General James Clinton. I thank God I am so far recovered, as to be able to do my duty, which I ascribe to some indulgence I have had in these Quarters. The time of the Troops, who now Garrison Fort Montgomery will expire the first of March, They must therefore be relieved by some of the Militia in the Pay of the...
24To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 16 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellencys favor of the 13th instant in answer to mine of the 6th. I had no design to convey an Idea in that Letter that a releif from the Command of this Post and its dependencies would be agreeable to me; as I have made it an invariable rule Since I entered the Service to do the duty assigned me, without a murmur or expresing a desire of preferring any other,...
25To George Washington from Alexander McDougall, 24 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Major Villefranch of the Corps of Engineers, has served a considerable time under my orders, and inspection, and I can with great trust assure your Excellency, he is an intelligent excellent careful Officer, particularly so, of the public stores. From the General and particular observations I have made on his conduct, in the time of service he is in; I think him an acquisition to the Country;...
26To George Washington from Alexander McDougall, 9 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
It is with extreme Reluctance, I trouble your Excellency with Applications on the Subject of my Arrest: But I am perswaded whatever is armed with propriety, will, from your known sense of Justice be granted. Under this Impression, I beg your Excellency to order me a certified copy of the Minutes of the Council of war held at my Quarters at Mrs McGowans, on the 12th of September 1776 . This...
27To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 26 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellency favor of yesterday. The arrangement of the Massachusets line made by the Committee of officers was transmitted from Pecks-Kill some time ago—with remarks—and the objections to it by those who considered themselves injured. Least it should have miscarried, I inclose the only copy I have left; also Such of the sentence of death as I have in my Posesion. The...
28To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 4 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
My last address to your Excellency was of the 25th Ultimo by the Stated express’s. I have not been favored with any of yours Since the 16th of december. The works at Kings-Ferry, will be ready for the Cannon and Compleat to receive the Troops, long before those can now be transported from the Eastward. west Point can very ill, Spare any heavy for the Ferry. Col. woods regt having finished...
29To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 6 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 1st was handed to me last Night from Fish Kill. Agreeable to your request I inclose you a return of the Corps at these posts of the 27th Ultimo. It is far from being correct; but it is the best I can obtain. Col. Greatons and Aldens regiments are not yet ordered down from Albany; as the Stores there were exposed to a Coup de main of the Enemy, Till the River was...
30To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Teams of General Nixons Brigade are all Sent off, at Some distance, for want of Forage, which will render it impracticable, to move the Brigade or Transport Provission to it. I have therefore directed him to Send out, a Field officers command of 150 men, with four days Provission, which will come up to the Idea your Excellency last mentioned to me, on that Subject. These can be releived,...