51To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 31 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 28th Inst. and have according to your direction ordered two Brigades viz. Gen. McDougal & Huntington to put their heavy baggage over the river, & to be in readiness to march on the arrival of further orders—have sent Lt Col. Dimon to the white plains with his Regt to relieve Col. Courtlands detachment there, Consisting of his own Col. Livingstons & a party from...
52To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Recd yours of the 1st Inst. last evening & your favour of the 2nd this moment, In consequence of the Intellgience & Directions therein given Expresses were early this morning Sent to Govr Trumbull Genl Woolcut & Silliman urging in the Strongest manner the necessity of Speedily reinforcing this Post by the Militia —like Expresses have been Sent to Govr Clinton & to the Cols: of the Militia of...
53To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 8 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of my Sending the intelligence & orders to the Eastern States, receved from you, the militia are coming in fast from this, & from Connecticut, Genl Clinton is good anough to resume his former Command at Fort montgomery. Accounts from the northward are that Genl Burgoin is at Fort Edward, that he has left the Grants & is coming down with his whole force—and our Army is at...
54To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 7th Inst The dark designs of our Enimies evincies the foulness of their cause, & the genus of their Ally, betray Strong marks of timidity by attempting through artifice what they are deffident of effecting by force, but time, I trust, will unravel their misteries, When we Shall Se the Light Shine through both them & their Schemes—Inclosed is a letter from Govr...
55To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 14 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received no intelligence of the Enemy’s fleet Since the 1st of this month that may be depended on—theres a rumour that they have appeared in Chesapeak bay, another that they were Seen off natucket Shoals—we have frequent desertions from the Enemy both british & Hessian. Jud: McDonald, taken Septr last in our Service on york Island and inlisted into Delancys Coir deserted from them 9...
56To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 14 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this moment received a letter from Govr Geo: Clinton at New Windsor, inclosing a Copy of intelligence from the northward which I send to you, also requesting Some Continental Troops to go northward—to Support the Militia whom he is gone to influence on—in Consequence of his request your Order before given I have ordered Col. Courtlands & Livingston’s Regts to march immediately to the...
57To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 15 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Recd yours of 13th Inst: in my last Sent you the intelligence I received from the northward —& acquainted you that I had ordered the two york Regts to the northward which before this I presume you have received—that Genl Clinton was on York Island after the third of august Inst: It appears by a flag Sent out—which is Since their fleet Saild—the militia from Connecticut not being ordered for...
58To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 22 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have recievd yours from Bucks County 18th Inst. And Apprehend from The Introduction of the Second Paragraph, That Your Exelly must have been misinformed respecting The Militia of Connecticut; By the Returns, Your Exelly will be evinced That of the Militia of Con[necticu]t, upwards of a Thousand, are on Command, with their Brigdr Genll Ward—coopperating with B. Genll Warnum—in distressing...
59To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 30 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I send you a Return of the Corps under my Command, you may think it strange that it has not been sent you before, but Col. Pickering desir’d that I would Add a Return of the Artillary, with the other Troops. I have given Repeated orders that they bring their Returns in at the time appointed, but have not had any—and dont know that I shall unless I take some other Steps—The New...
60To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 6 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I Send a return of the Corps under my Command at this & the adjacent posts[.] have no news more than what I believe you have heared—I understand Genl How has Set his face towards Philadelphia[.] I pray he may meet with the fate due to his evil intentions of torturing the Innocent & of Subjugating America to the most ignominious Slavery—have not received a line from you Since the 22nd...
61To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 13 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Should rejoice to have a line from you but I know in your Situation your attention is engaged in transactions of the greatest moment. We have intellegence from the northward that Supplies of men & Stores come in fast to General Gates that he has moved up to Stillwater—that Generals Lincoln & Stark with Seven or Eight thousand men are marched from Bennington to git into the rear of G....
62To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 14 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favours of the 6th & 10th Inst. I was honoured with the receipt of this fore noon—the barracks at Peeks kill will Contain about fifteen hundred men—the barracks at Fish kill will, with Some repairing, cover 1600—at the Clove four or five hundred—which barracks we are repairing—a body of the Enemy from kings bridge & Fort Washington Crossed over by fort Lee & have marched up to...
63To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 16 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am extreamly sorry to hear that you have been unfortunatly obliged to retire and leave Genl How in possession of the Ground, I hope Providence will yet so smile on your Efforts, which I know will be to your utmost, as to put Genl How and his force in your power, The disadvantages of being attacked are very great, the Enemy chuse their mode of Attack Oppose their greatest strength, to your...
64To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 17 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 17 Sept. 1777. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote Putnam on 21 Sept.: “His Excellency recd your favr of the 17th” ( DLC : William A. Oldridge Collection).
65To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 27 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 27 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Putnam on 1 Oct. : “I have yours of the 27 and 28 Ulto.”
66To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 28 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 28 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Putnam on 1 Oct. : “I have yours of the 27 and 28 Ulto.”
67To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 29 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
by letter from Genl Silliman received last night he long ago ordered one half of his Brigade to be drafted & to Join the army here—of whom One Capt: & Twelve men only have Joined me—Genl Burgoine, by letter Just received from the Northward is determined to push for Albany & a Strong force is Collected at Newyork—by The Troops being drawn to the northward & to the Southward from this Post,...
68To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 2 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 28th Ulto and a Copy of One the 23d I was Duly Honourd with; Genl Varnum with his Brigade Crossed Kings Ferry the Day before yesterday, and the same Evening Genl Parsons arrived from the White Plains. Last night Major Hughs (son to Colonel Hughes D.Q.M. Genl to this Department) arrived here with an express from General Gates, by which I learnt that the Army Under his Command was...
69To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Its with the Utmost Reluctance I now sit Down to inform you that the Enemy After Making a Variety of Movements up & down North river, landed on the Morning of the 4th Inst. about 3000 Men at Tarry Town, & after Making an excursion about five Miles up the Country, they retu[r]ned & embarked, the Morning following the[y] Advanced up Near Kings Ferry & landed On the East side of the river, but in...
70To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
sinse I wrote you this morning, I have waited on Governor Clinton to Consult about our present Circumstances and fix upon the most effectual measure that could be pursued against the Enemy, which is now Landing a Considerable number of Troops at Fort Constitution, and proceeding up the River, with their Ships Gally’s, Flatt Bottom’d Boats &c: they will from all appearance be at the Chevaux De...
71To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 10 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you of the 8th Inst. Nothing Perticular [h]as happend in this Quarter, Only that the Enemy yesterday Morning with about 2500 Men took Possesion of Fort Constitution, the[y] have also Destroyed Our Store Houses &c. at the Continental Village Peeks kill, but I have the Pleasure to Accquaint your Excellency that the Stores from thence were removed except a few Barrells Flour &...
72To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 16 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been hond with the receipt of your two favours of the 8th and immagine before this you have recd mine of the Same date containing the disagreable intelligence of the loss of fort mountgomery after a most Spirited defence & of our evacuating Peeks kill in Consequence thereoff—I congratulate you on the bravery of your Troops in attacking & putting to flight the british army, & regret the...
73To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 20 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, 20 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Putnam on 26 Oct. : “I have your favr of the 20th.”
74To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honrd with the recept of your two Favours of the 15th & 19th Inst.—and have the pleasure to acquaint you that after a Tedious march we are returned to this place, the Fleet passed down by here yesterday, & did but little dammage on their return. Some heavy Artillery & a reinforcement of Continental Troops, I am Informed by Genl Gates, are on their way to Join me—by a deserter & two...
75To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 27 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Accquaint you that yesterday Morning the Enemy Evacuated both Fort Montgomery & Clinton, (but not without laying the same into ashes) and destroying every work about them; all their Shipping Large & Small with all the sails they could Possible Crowd Proceded down the River yesterday, They have Certainly ⟨so⟩me secret expidition in View, & from every Acct I am able to...
76To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate your Excellency on the Success of your arms against the Enemy, in the attack made on Red Bank which Comes by letter from Col. Bidle—I have already informed you, by former letters, of the return of the Enemys fleet down the river—their having evacuated Peeks kill Fort mountgomery & their adjacent posts, after destroying the Cannon & demolishing the Forts, with an Evident design,...
77To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry that I am under the disagreeable Necessity of acquainting you that there is the greatest Necessity of Money in this Department, the Troops suffer for want of Pay, the Commissary, and Quarters Departments are exceedingly embarress’d and perplexed in their Business, greatly involved in debt, and the Public Faith will be prejudiced unless a Considerable supply of Cash is speedily...
78To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 7 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your’s of the 31st Octor and 1st Novemr I have been favor’d with, and have taken the Necessary precautions that your Army should be supply’d with Provisions. In my last I Informed you that Genel Warners Brigade were orderd to Join you, but as they are Rais’d only till the first of Decemr the Officers and men think it exceeding hard, that they should be obliged Make that Long March and their...
79To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 14 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with your’s of the 4th 5th & 9th Instt & you will see by mine of 7th that I have detain’d Genl Warners Brigade. The New York Regiments being annex’d to General Poors Brigade, they are exceeding unwilling to be seperated, and I knowing the disadvantages that would arrise from their being here have presumed in some measure to deviate from your excellencys Orders —Those Regiments are...
80To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 18 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with your two Letters, of the 11th Inst.—As to the Blankets stopped for this department; Mr Young Informd me there were between five and Six thousand going on to the southward, besides the 400 that I detained here—The Artillary Regt here, had not Recd a single one since their entering the Service—Most of them lost all their Cloathing at Fort Montgomery, and without Blankets, they...